Mixing pigment into resin feels like opening a whole new box of art tricks. Acrylic paint is easy to find, and just about everyone has an old tube sitting around. Not every artist wants to buy separate resin dyes, so that question comes up again and again – can you just squirt in a bit of acrylic paint?
Acrylic paint and epoxy resin seem like they might play along nicely, since both are made for creative work. On paper, the problem starts with how they’re built. Resin is a plastic you pour as a liquid that turns solid. Acrylic is a water-based paint. Right out of the gate, these don’t mix the same way oil and vinegar don’t fully blend. The trouble with water is that it messes with how resin sets up. Every drop of moisture fights against a strong, glossy cure. Add too much paint, or paint with lots of water, and you’ll curse those milky swirls and sticky patches that never turn solid.
I made plenty of mistakes as a beginner, pouring cured resin only to find rubbery lumps stuck in place or dull spots stealing the shine. Those times, I learned acrylic and resin need strict rules. Use no more than 10% paint compared to resin—less is better. Thin, heavily watered-down paint means more risk. Sometimes a dab of thick, high-pigment artist acrylic works, but those cheap craft paints? They give resin a tough time.
Professional resin painters use special colorants made for resin. These react smoothly and leave a bright finish. Acrylics work in a pinch, though not without headaches. If your project needs maximum strength or a deep-clear finish, store the acrylics and grab a resin dye or alcohol ink.
Art and craft supplies are expensive. If you already have acrylic paint, you save money if you can make it work. It’s easy to get trapped buying a different bottle for every medium, so plenty of people want shortcuts that deliver good results. The problem is, shortcuts often lead to wasted resin, and wasted resin means more plastic headed to the landfill. Resin costs real money and doesn’t break down easily. That half-solid batch goes straight in the trash. To me, working with what’s available means understanding limits—a skill as important as learning a new brushstroke.
Start with a test. Mix a tiny bit of paint into a small batch of resin and see what happens after it cures for a full day. Look for cloudiness, tacky spots, or weird textures. If it all looks clear, use thin coats and keep colors subtle. Thick, heavy pours have a better chance of going wrong.
If you’re hunting for richer, more predictable color in resin projects, try resin tints or powders. Many brands publish safety data sheets and ingredient lists so you know exactly what you’re handling. Artists who sell their resin work pay close attention to the quality and reliability of any colorant—nobody wants a mural turning yellow after a year.
In the end, mixing acrylic paint into resin is a gamble—sometimes you win, sometimes you wish you hadn’t tried. If you accept the risk, experiment in small doses and keep a curious mindset. Creativity always seems to find a way, especially when you pay attention to what the materials are telling you.
