Liquitex is known for its high-quality, professional-grade acrylic paints, but with a premium price tag, many artists wonder — is it worth it? Today, Jess dives into a head-to-head comparison of their Soft Body and Heavy Body acrylic paints, testing out the texture, coverage, and overall performance to help you decide which one might be right for you.
We recently had a rep from the art shop drop off a few Liquitex Professional Acrylic sample packs, and we finally got a chance to open them and see what these paints are all about. These were not sponsored; they were just a nice gift with purchase!
Soft Body vs. Heavy Body Acrylics
Both of these paints are top-tier in terms of pigmentation, but they behave quite differently on the canvas. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from each:
Liquitex Soft Body:
- Texture: Smooth, flowing, and creamy.
- Best For: Glazing, fine details, or covering large areas with even coats. Use it to paint, pour, glaze almost any surface.
- Coverage: Spreads well but has a thinner consistency, which might require more layering for opacity.
Liquitex Heavy Body:
- Texture: Thick, buttery, and retains brush or palette knife marks.
- Best For: Impasto techniques, textured work, or when you want your brushstrokes to show.
- Coverage: Highly pigmented with a satin finish, gives you permanent colour, with crisp brush strokes and knife marks.
Check out the full video to see how they perform side by side.
Coverage Test & Results:
In the video, we also perform a coverage test, comparing how each paint covers an underlayer of colour. If you’re someone who needs excellent coverage (especially for those areas where you’re working over an existing painting), the Heavy Body acrylics performed better in that area. However, the Soft Body acrylics are perfect for more fluid work and detailed applications where smoothness is key.
Both Liquitex Soft Body and Heavy Body acrylics are excellent products, but which one you choose will depend on your style and technique. Heavy Body is perfect if you love thick, textured strokes, while Soft Body might be your go-to for more fluid applications and smooth blending. If you’re unsure, it’s always a great idea to test out a sample pack like we did!