Crafting often feels like a test kitchen. Painters and resin crafters experiment with all sorts of mixes, hoping for that perfect color twist or texture. Acrylic paint costs much less than resin pigments, and shares shelf space in most studios. But putting acrylics in resin isn’t as straightforward as it looks on TikTok. You see the beautiful swirls and bold designs online, but seldom the sticky messes hiding underneath the camera angle.
Acrylic paint and resin set differently. Acrylic dries by water evaporation. Resin cures by a chemical reaction. Add too much water-based paint into resin and you suddenly have more bubbles, streaks, and sometimes a soft piece that never truly cures. I’ve tested it myself with a few small keychains. Mixing in just a drop or two of high-quality, fluid acrylic produces a soft pastel effect. Too much, and the resin turns cloudy, or cracks begin to form days later. Sometimes, the objects fail to harden at all.
Acrylic paint seems like such an easy option. Pastel colors, bold hues, the right touch of shimmer—often at a fraction of the price. Many are just hoping to stretch their budgets, especially at home where a full array of resin dyes doesn’t make sense for a single art project. Kids and hobbyists also like the ease. In fact, over the last few years, Google Trends shows a steady climb for folks searching “acrylic paint in resin,” pointing to massive curiosity and demand for affordable craft experiments.
Mixing acrylics into resin isn’t just about the final look. Safety matters. Acrylics often use additives or fillers. Not all brands reveal what’s in their paint. Artists should wear gloves and use a mask no matter what, but certain blends could emit extra odors or throw off the chemical balance of a piece if you pour a lot at once. Resin, even by itself, wants a well-ventilated space. Add in any outside material, and caution grows more important.
Resin specialists caution against heavy doses of any water-based paint, especially if the project needs to last. The consensus: no more than 10% paint to resin by volume, and usually just a couple of drops in smaller pours. A friend of mine, a professional jewelry maker, learned this lesson after her bead batch never set fully—she lost hours and supplies. These days, she sticks to resin tints or mica powders, which bond with the resin naturally.
The best results? Use acrylics only for small details or marbling effects, keep ratios low, and always mix thoroughly. For deep, solid color, shell out for pigments made for resin. Most brands now offer beginner-friendly kits, so hobbyists don’t have to break the bank for brighter creations.
Fact is, taking risks with materials keeps art fun—just read labels, don’t skip the safety gear, and maybe test on a coaster before pouring a gallon for your next project.
