Exceptional value for a complete 36-color set with accessories, ideal for beginners and hobbyists.
Price vs. rivals
Cheaper
CheaperTypicalPricier
Priced well below many comparable 36-color acrylic sets, positioning it as an affordable value option for hobbyists and students rather than a premium or budget-tier extreme.
Ease of use
Excellent 90/100
The set includes brushes and palette, and the non-toxic, rich pigments make it straightforward for average users to start painting on various surfaces.
Overview
This Shuttle Art acrylic paint review is the short answer for anyone wondering if a 36-color set for twenty-six bucks is actually worth hauling home. It is—for the price, the range, and the fact you get usable brushes and a palette without paying extra. The set solves the “I need lots of colors but I’m not ready to drop $80 on artist-grade paint” problem. It’s really for hobbyists, casual painters, kids doing school projects, and adults who want to try acrylics without a huge commitment.
You get thirty-six 60ml (2oz) bottles, three brushes, and one plastic palette. That’s a lot of paint per dollar. The catch? These aren’t professional tubes—they’re student-grade, so expect a slightly thinner body and less pigment load than high-end brands. But for everyday painting on canvas, wood, rocks, or ceramic, they work fine.
Key Features
36 colors, including metallics and neons – You get the usual primaries, secondaries, earth tones, plus a couple of shimmer shades and bright fluorescent colors. That means you can mix most hues without needing to buy extras, and the metallics are nice for accents.
60ml bottles (2oz each) – That’s a solid amount of paint. Most budget sets give you 12ml or 20ml tubes; these bottles last through many projects. One bottle covers roughly a square foot of canvas if you paint moderately thick.
Three nylon brushes and a palette – The brushes are basic—flat, round, and a detail liner. They shed a few hairs at first, but after a rinse they’re usable. The palette is a simple plastic tray with wells, fine for mixing.
Non-toxic and water-based – The paint is certified non-toxic (AP certified), so it’s safe for kids 3 and up. No harsh solvents needed—just soap and water cleanup while wet.
Bottles with flip-top caps – Each bottle has a small nozzle and a cap that flips open. It keeps the paint from drying out, but you still need to wipe the nozzle after each use or it gets crusty.
Matte finish when dry – Most colors dry to a flat matte. That’s fine for most work, but if you want gloss, you’ll need a varnish.
Fit for You
You’re a beginner who wants a wide color range to learn color mixing without buying a separate tube for every shade.
You’re a parent looking for a non-toxic acrylic paint set for kids that won’t break the bank and includes everything to start painting right away.
You paint rocks or small wood crafts for fun and need a bunch of colors in one box—plus you don’t care if the paint isn’t archival.
You host painting parties or teach a class and want to hand everyone a set of basic colors without worrying about expensive waste.
You do mixed-media art and need affordable paint for backgrounds, stenciling, or layers that you’ll cover anyway.
Uses
You can pull out this set for a lazy Sunday paint session on canvas. Squeeze a few colors onto the palette, grab a reference photo, and you’re set. The paint spreads easily—not too stiff, not too runny. It covers most surfaces in one or two coats, though light colors like yellow or white might need three for full opacity.
It’s solid for painting rocks. The acrylic sticks well to stone, and since the bottles are small, you can take a handful of colors to a picnic table without lugging a whole case. Just seal with a clear coat if the rocks go outside.
Kids use it on paper or cardboard. The non-toxic claim is reassuring, but you’ll still want a smock. The paint washes off skin easily with soap, which is a relief. On clothes, though, treat it like any acrylic—get it wet while fresh or you’re buying a new shirt.
Experience
Opening the box, you’re greeted with a cardboard tray holding all 36 bottles neatly arranged by color family. The bottles are identical—tall, round, with a white cap. No label mix-ups, and each bottle has the color name and number printed clearly.
Squeezing the first color (say, Titanium White) feels a bit thick but not pasty. It comes out of the nozzle easily, though you have to shake some bottles because the pigment settles. A quick shake and you’re back in business. The paint moves nicely on the brush—smooth, no clumps. Coverage is decent. For deep colors like red or ultramarine, one coat shows the surface underneath faintly; two coats give full opacity.
The brushes are the weak point. They’re serviceable, but the flat brush loses a couple of bristles over time. You’ll eventually want to replace them with a cheap synthetic set. The palette works fine, but after a few sessions the paint stains it. That’s normal—soap and a scrub help, but it won’t stay crystal clear.
Cleaning up while the paint is wet is effortless—just run the brush under warm water, a little soap, and you’re done. Let paint dry on the brush and you’ll need brush cleaner and patience. The bottles’ flip tops are convenient but can get crusty if you don’t wipe the rim after use. A minor annoyance that’s easy to avoid.
Overall, living with this set day to day is low-fuss. You store the bottles upright; they don’t leak. The cardboard tray is flimsy, so after a few months you might transfer the bottles to a plastic bin. But for the price, you can’t complain about the packaging.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Great color variety for the price – Thirty-six colors including metallics and neons for $26 is hard to beat. You get a ton of options without spending professional money.
Non-toxic and safe – AP certified, so it’s fine for kids and people sensitive to fumes. No smelly solvents needed.
Decent consistency – The paint is creamy, not watery. It blends well and doesn’t separate on the palette as fast as some cheap brands.
Good bottle size – 60ml per color means you won’t run out after three projects. Many sets offer only 12ml or 20ml at this price.
Includes brushes and palette – You can start painting right out of the box without buying extra gear. The brushes are basic but enough for a beginner.
Cons
Brushes shed and wear quickly – You’ll find a stray hair in your painting now and then. Plan to upgrade to a better brush set after a few uses.
Some colors are thin – White, yellow, and some pastel shades need multiple coats for full coverage. It’s a student-grade trade-off.
Paint dries matte – If you prefer a glossy finish, you’ll need to buy varnish. The matte look is fine for many projects, but not everyone likes it.
Bottle nozzles can clog – If you don’t wipe the tip after each use, dried paint builds up. It’s a minor cleanup hassle.
Advantages
Versus other budget sets – When you compare it to similarly priced options from brands like Apple Barrel or Crafts 4 All, Shuttle Art offers more colors per dollar (36 vs 24 or 18) and slightly thicker paint.
Shuttle Art vs Arteza acrylic paint – Arteza’s student-grade sets are a step up in pigment strength and consistency, but they cost nearly twice as much. Shuttle Art is the smarter choice if you’re on a tight budget or just messing around. If you’re serious about learning, Arteza might be worth the extra money—but for casual use, Shuttle Art wins on value.
Non-toxic acrylic paint for kids – Many cheap paints lack safety certifications. Shuttle Art’s AP seal gives you peace of mind when little hands are involved. That’s a big advantage over no-name craft paint sets.
Who Should Buy
Buy it if you’re a beginner painter or hobbyist who wants a big color selection without spending a lot. It’s also perfect for parents with kids who paint occasionally, or for crafters who need disposable paint for rough projects.
Skip it if you’re an experienced artist who needs professional-grade opacity, lightfastness, and pigment load. Also skip it if you require a glossy film without extra varnish. In that case, look at Liquitex Basics or Arteza in the same price range but with fewer colors.
FAQ
Is the Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set worth it?
For the price, yes—if you need many colors and don’t expect professional quality. The paint is decent, the bottle size is generous, and the set includes brushes. You’ll get plenty of use before you feel the need to upgrade.
Is it safe for kids?
Yes. The paint is AP-certified non-toxic and water-based. It’s safe for children ages 3 and up with supervision. As with any art material, avoid ingestion and clean up spills promptly.
How long does the paint last?
Each 60ml bottle lasts through several small to medium paintings. A typical canvas (12×16) might use about 10-15ml of paint depending on thickness, so you can expect 4-6 paintings per color if you’re not heavy-handed.
Does it need water to thin?
You can add water to thin the paint for washes or glazes, but do it sparingly—too much water weakens the binder and can cause cracking. For most painting, the consistency straight from the bottle is fine.
Can you use it on fabric?
It will paint on fabric, but the paint stays stiff when dry and may crack with washing. You’ll need a fabric medium additive if you want flexibility and durability. For casual decorative projects (like painting a canvas bag), it’s okay.
How does it compare to Arteza?
Shuttle Art gives you more colors for less money, but Arteza’s paint has thicker body and slightly better coverage. If you’re a hobbyist, the Shuttle Art set is a better value; if you’re learning technique, Arteza may feel more satisfying.
Final Verdict
This Shuttle Art acrylic paint review comes down to one honest bottom line: for $26, you get 36 colors that work, a few usable extras, and zero toxic worries. It’s not the paint you’ll use to create gallery-sold canvases, but it is the paint you’ll grab for a fun afternoon project, a kid’s school assignment, or a trial run to see if you even like acrylics. The one thing to keep in mind: plan to buy better brushes after a few sessions. Other than that, it’s a solid deal that does exactly what it promises—no hype, no letdown.
Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set vs the Competition in 2026
The Shuttle Art 36-color set sits in a sweet spot that’s hard to ignore: it gives you a truckload of paint—2oz per bottle—for about twenty-six bucks. That puts it squarely in the budget-to-mid range, where most sets either cut color counts or give you tiny sample pots. It’s not the finest paint you can buy, and you probably wouldn’t hang your professional portfolio on it. But for someone buying their first set, painting with kids, or just needing lots of colors without draining the wallet, it’s the volume king.
Product
Price Range
Key Strength
Key Weakness
Best For
Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set
Budget–Mid ($25)
36 colors in huge 2oz bottles; full starter kit included
Brushes are stiff and won’t hold a fine point; paint can crack if applied too thickly
Beginners, kids’ projects, anyone needing maximum color variety per dollar
Arteza Acrylic Paint Set (60ml tubes)
Mid ($30–$35)
Buttery consistency, high pigment load, dries to even finish
Only 24 colors in the standard set; tubes are less convenient for palette mixing
Hobbyists who want better quality paint without jumping to artist grade
Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint (2oz bottles)
Budget ($0.50–$1 per bottle)
Ridiculously cheap, easy to find at any craft store
Runny binder, weak pigment coverage, limited to 16 colors per multi-pack
Single-use school crafts, foam board, and projects where finish doesn’t matter
Liquitex BASICS Acrylic (75ml tubes)
Premium-lite ($8–$10 per tube)
Legitimate student-grade paint; mixes cleanly, no cracking
You’ll pay $70+ for a useful variety pack; they’re much smaller than Shuttle’s bottles
Students and artists who want to learn color theory with professional-grade tools
Shuttle Art vs Arteza acrylic paint: what you trade for that price
The most common hesitation I hear is “Should I just spend a few more dollars on Arteza?” And look, Arteza’s 60ml tubes are genuinely nicer paint. They flow off the brush more smoothly, blend with less effort, and they don’t turn into plastic-looking patches when you layer them. That matters if you’re painting something you’d actually frame. But here’s the trade-off: Arteza’s 24-color set costs about the same as Shuttle’s 36-color set, and Arteza skips a lot of the shades beginners actually want—no burnt umber, no cool turquoise, no deep magenta. Shuttle Art gives you all those weird, useful colors. If you mix your own paint often, Arteza’s smaller but superior palette is a better pick. If you want to grab a bottle of raw sienna straight off the rack, Shuttle wins.
Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set vs Apple Barrel: you get what you (don’t) pay for
Pitting these two is almost unfair. Apple Barrel is the cheapest acrylic you’ll find at Walmart—usually 50 cents per 2oz bottle if you buy the multi-pack. It’s watery, the binder is cheap, and painting over dark surfaces takes three or four coats. The Shuttle Art set, by contrast, has noticeably more body. You can lay down a solid coat of their titanium white in one pass. The downside? Shuttle Art’s paint is thicker in a way that can feel gummy if you overwork it, and the included brushes shed a bristle or two. But the Apple Barrel set doesn’t include brushes at all, and its color selection maxes out around 16 shades. If you’re painting with kindergarteners who’ll dump paint straight onto the table, stick with Apple Barrel—it washes out fine and costs nothing. If you want an actual painting experience for yourself or an older kid, Shuttle Art is a proper step up.
Shuttle Art acrylic paint review vs Liquitex BASICS: volume or education?
This one’s about where you see yourself in six months. Liquitex BASICS is student-grade paint that behaves predictably. You can mix it using color theory formulas and the results will match the chart. The pigment load is high enough that you can thin it with water and still get coverage. Shuttle Art’s paint is less predictable—some colors, particularly the lighter blues and yellows, turn transparent when thinned. You’ll be guessing more than you’d like. But the volume difference is absurd. A single Liquitex 75ml tube runs eight to ten dollars. To match Shuttle’s 36 colors, you’d spend over $200. So if you’re cash-strapped and just want to learn brush control without worrying about paint quality, Shuttle is the honest choice. If you’ve got the budget and want your practice paintings to actually teach you something, pick three Liquitex primaries plus white and learn to mix.
So who should buy the Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set? You’re the beginner who wants the best acrylic paint set for beginners if your main worry is “which colors exist, not “which paint handles best”. You’re the parent buying non-toxic acrylic paint for kids who won’t sit still while you explain glazing. The set is worth it exactly because it doesn’t pretend to be artist-grade. If you want a genuine alternative, get the Arteza 24-color set instead—you’ll sacrifice shade variety but gain a paint that actually feels good to push around. Just don’t expect Apple Barrel to compete on anything except price, and don’t bother with Liquitex unless you’re ready to commit to mixing your own palette.
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