CraftSmart, Americana, and Folk Art are all popular brands of acrylic paints, each with its own unique characteristics and advantages. In this comparison, we’ll look at various aspects of these brands to help you make an informed choice for your painting projects.
- Color Range:
- CraftSmart: CraftSmart offers a wide range of colors, but the selection may vary depending on the store. It’s known for its vibrant and bright colors.
- Americana: Americana boasts an extensive color palette, including traditional, metallic, and specialty colors. It is known for its excellent color consistency.
- Folk Art: Folk Art also offers a diverse range of colors, including metallic and glitter options. It is praised for its unique vintage and rustic color options.
- Consistency:
- CraftSmart: CraftSmart paints often have a slightly thicker consistency, which can be suitable for impasto techniques.
- Americana: Americana paints have a creamy and smooth consistency, making them easy to blend and work with.
- Folk Art: Folk Art paints are typically smooth and creamy, making them great for various painting techniques, including blending and detailing.
- Opacity and Coverage:
- CraftSmart: Some CraftSmart colors may require multiple coats for full opacity due to their slightly thicker consistency.
- Americana: Americana paints are known for their excellent coverage, and most colors are highly opaque in one or two coats.
- Folk Art: Folk Art paints offer good coverage with minimal effort, and they are often praised for their opacity.
- Drying Time:
- CraftSmart: CraftSmart acrylics tend to have a relatively fast drying time, which can be an advantage for artists who work quickly.
- Americana: Americana paints have a moderate drying time, allowing for some blending and layering.
- Folk Art: Folk Art acrylics also have a moderate drying time, giving artists a bit more time to work with the paint.
- Price:
- CraftSmart: CraftSmart is often considered one of the more budget-friendly options among these brands.
- Americana: Americana falls in the mid-range in terms of pricing, making it accessible for most artists.
- Folk Art: Folk Art is also reasonably priced, making it a good choice for artists on a budget.
- Packaging:
- CraftSmart: CraftSmart paints are commonly available in bottles and larger containers.
- Americana: Americana offers both bottles and tubes, making it convenient for various preferences.
- Folk Art: Folk Art paints are typically sold in bottles, which are easy to use and store.
- Specialty Paints:
- CraftSmart: CraftSmart may have fewer specialty options compared to the other brands.
- Americana: Americana offers a wide range of specialty paints, including multi-surface, chalkboard, and outdoor paints.
- Folk Art: Folk Art has a variety of specialty paints, including enamels, extreme glitter, and crackle finishes.
Out of these three brands of paint my favorite is CraftSmart. I do not particularly care for the Americana brand. Of Americana the only plus they have in my opinion is that they have the Flesh Tone that I liked the best. Folk Art is nice and gives me the kind of results that I like to see in my completed projects. My go to place for getting my art supplies is Michaels.
In conclusion, the choice between CraftSmart, Americana, and Folk Art acrylic paints ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a wide color range and good coverage, Americana might be your best bet. Folk Art is known for its unique vintage colors and specialty paints, while CraftSmart offers budget-friendly options with a slightly thicker consistency. Consider your project requirements and your painting style when selecting the brand that suits you best.