Plenty of artists and crafters look for ways to make resin projects pop. It’s tempting to reach for whatever paint sits on your shelf, and acrylic seems the most available. It’s cheap, it’s flexible, and it’s everywhere. At a glance, acrylic paint feels perfect for the job—but pouring it into epoxy or other resin comes with trade-offs.
Acrylic paint comes packed with water. Resin just doesn’t love water. Every time I’ve tried pouring acrylics into mixed resin, I saw cloudy effects, unexpected bubbles, and at times a weird texture creeping through the finished project. The resin didn’t cure as clear or strong. Some parts came out sticky. This happens because the water in acrylic delays or throws off the chemical reaction that lets resin harden. You can get away with a drop or two for a streak or swirl; the more you load in, though, the more you risk a gummy mess.
Resin pigments or dyes made specifically for epoxy give reliable bright colors without interfering with the cure. Alcohol inks also blend in much better than any other paint—no water, just pure dye that mingles smoothly with resin. I’ve even reached for concentrated mica powders, which bring shimmer and bold color and don’t mess with the chemical mix at all. These options don’t fight with the formula or add moisture. Artisans who want a predictable outcome mostly stick with these dedicated colorants.
Still, acrylic has its charm—easy to find, easy to match with other artwork. If you plan to use it, go easy. A few drops of vivid acrylic can give pastel shades or a cloudy, “milky” look. Mix it well to avoid clumps. Thin layers work better than thicker ones. Let resin cure in a dust-free, steady-temperature space. Anything more than a hint carries risk, but for some, a softer tone or textured look fits the style.
Projects colored with the right pigments last longer. They resist yellowing and stay strong after months or even years. Pieces colored with acrylic paint tend to yellow or show patchy color over time, especially if they find a home in direct sunlight. No one wants a cloudy coaster or yellowed jewelry just months after finishing. If longevity matters, dedicated resin colorants earn their shelf space.
Always test a small sample first. Don’t jump into big projects before you know how resin and paint will behave together. Sometimes a quirky, cloudy finish looks intentional, but for clear, glass-like results, go with colorants designed to play nice with resin. Craft suppliers everywhere now offer resin-safe pigments in every shade you can imagine. Investing in the right materials pays off in the final result. Reliable color, strong pieces, fewer headaches—lessons learned from plenty of trial and error.
