Epoxy resin projects have exploded over the past few years. From coasters that look like molten opal to river tables glittering with swirling shades, people keep finding new ways to bend light and color. The temptation to grab a bottle of acrylic paint—familiar, cheap, easy to find—feels pretty strong for anyone starting out. Before you squeeze that tube into your resin, pause for a second.
Acrylic paint mixes pretty well with water but not so well with the kind of chemicals found in epoxy. This matters a lot. Resins love oil-based, powder, or alcohol inks because these settle in without turning chunky. I tried acrylics in my own resin once, aiming for a nice sea-glass blue. Instead, I got milky globs and odd streaks. Acrylics act up because they’ve got fillers—think chalky stuff—meant to dry with air, not get sealed under layers of sticky plastic.
Clumping isn’t the end of it. Some pieces can turn cloudy or develop hidden cracks when they cure. People put a lot of patience and cash into handmade resin work. Having to sand or toss misshapen pieces gets old fast.
Art-grade epoxy smells strong and its safety sheets offer plenty of warnings. Adding non-compatible paint, like acrylics, changes how resin does its job. Even if it looks decent at first, surprises can show up. Microbubbles or hazing might pop up months later. Fact is, reputable manufacturers recommend only limited amounts of well-tested colorants to keep things non-toxic after the resin sets. Didn’t take long for me to realize lab-tested dyes or tints actually do make a difference.
Acrylic paint draws the budget-conscious crowd. The bottles sit on discount shelves and sure seem easier on the wallet than dedicated resin colorants. Here’s the catch. Cheap paint inside resin is way more likely to ruin a mold or clog up the finish. You end up spending more fixing mistakes. Seeing this in local makers’ groups drove the message home for me—sometimes a couple extra bucks up front saves hours of sanding or lost effort.
No one wants to waste supplies. For lasting results, resin-specific colorants work way better than acrylic paint. Alcohol inks, mica powders, or concentrated resin dyes stay stable as the resin cures. They mix clean, sink in slowly, and don’t shift color three months later.
There’s value in a little research, even on small projects. Many sites dedicated to resin crafts include clear test results for different additives, and the science lines up with what real-life users find: professional pigment powders, alcohol-based inks, and purpose-made resin tints win every time. Toss in a little trial and error with small batches first. Small investments pay off, saving both supplies and peace of mind down the road.
Art isn’t about playing it safe, but resin projects reward people who respect the limits of their materials. Experimenting fuels creativity, but for clear, tough, and beautiful results, skip the acrylic bottle and reach for colorants meant for resin. Good information, patience, and the right ingredients build projects that last.
