Liquitex Acrylic Markers vs. Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint Set 12: What I Learned From Wasting $3,400

I’ve handled art supply orders for an educational distributor for six years. In that time, I’ve made 23 documented mistakes—maybe 22, no, 23, I’m counting the printer mishap—totaling roughly $18,000 in wasted budget. I’m not saying that with pride. I’m saying it because I now keep the checklist that prevents other people from repeating my errors.

In September 2022, I ordered 40 Liquitex Basics acrylic paint set 12 boxes and 30 packs of Liquitex acrylic markers for a high school painting program. Same brand, same paint family, students could use either, I thought. We had to send half of it back, reschedule the class, and pay a restocking fee. This comparison is the result of that mistake.

So let’s compare them directly: Liquitex acrylic markers versus the Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint Set 12. Not to declare a winner, but to make the differences obvious before you order.

Why I had to write this comparison

It’s tempting to think ‘same brand, same acrylic, different package.’ That simplification is wrong in one important way: a tube of paint and a marker are designed for different hand movements. Paint gives you open wet paint, mixing room, and brush control. Markers give you immediate line control, but almost no blending time. This is not a quality issue. It’s a workflow issue.

When I compared the Liquitex Basics paint set 12 and Liquitex acrylic markers side by side, I finally understood why the color alone doesn’t tell you how the material behaves.

The comparison framework

Here’s what I look at now for every supply order: upfront price versus total cost, coverage and cost per use, control and learning curve, color mixing and flexibility, cleanup and classroom workflow, lifespan and travel. That sounds like a lot, but after one $3,400 mistake, it’s fast.

Liquitex Acrylic Markers vs. Liquitex Basics Paint Set 12: Head to Head

1. Upfront price versus total cost

The Basics set 12 is almost always less money up front than a set of markers. I say almost because prices move; check current stock. But the bigger mistake is comparing shelf prices without adding the extras. The paint set requires brushes, a palette, water, rags, and something to protect the table. Markers need caps.

I’ve learned to ask ‘what’s NOT included’ before I ask ‘what’s the price.’ The vendor who lists all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end. That’s true for online printers, and it’s true for paint.

This is where a calculator can fool you. An ABV calculator only helps if you enter both original and final gravity. A Chipotle calorie calculator only helps if you include every ingredient. When I budgeted for the 2022 classroom order, I forgot the cleanup supplies. I entered the wrong variables, and the budget came out looking fine.

2. Coverage and cost per use

Tubes win for large area coverage. You can stretch a small amount of paint across a canvas, add medium, or layer it. A 22ml tube sounds small, but it goes a long way if you’re painting a 16×20 surface. Markers are better for small sections, outlines, and areas where you need an exact color without cleaning a brush.

Put another way: if you’re filling a background, paint set 12 is the no-brainer. If you’re filling a word bubble, use markers.

3. Control and learning curve

Markers are easier for a first-time user. You don’t need to manage brush pressure, water ratio, or palette layout. That’s a huge deal in a 45-minute classroom period. But markers dry fast, and they don’t blend the way wet paint does. Paint set 12 lets you work more slowly, mix subtly, and correct mistakes. It just takes more practice.

If you’re teaching beginners who already struggle with pencils, markers are a confidence builder. If you’re teaching color theory, the paint set is the real tool.

4. Color mixing and flexibility

With 12 tubes, you can mix nearly any hue. With markers, you’re stuck with the colors in the set unless you layer, which can get muddy. For gradients, flesh tones, or muted earth colors, paint set 12 wins. For clean, vivid lines, markers win.

What most people don’t realize is that “student-grade” Basics isn’t bad paint. The pigment load is lower than Liquitex Professional Heavy Body, so mixing with white can feel chalky if you overdo it. But for a classroom order, it’s a solid base.

5. Cleanup and classroom workflow

Markers are the winners on cleanup: cap them, put them in a bin, done. Paints mean water cups, brushes, palettes, and a sink trip. In a room without a sink, markers are a game-changer. In a proper art room, paint is manageable.

The hidden cost in my 2022 order wasn’t the paint itself; it was the cleanup time we didn’t budget for.

6. Lifespan and travel

Paints in sealed tubes last for years. A marker, even with the cap on, has a smaller pigment reservoir and a tip that wears down. If you need a portable setup, markers travel better. If you need longevity, the paint set wins.

That balance is easier to see when you put them side by side.

A side quest: how to use a printer for swatch labels

If you buy the Liquitex Basics acrylic paint set 12, I strongly suggest printing a swatch chart. If you buy Liquitex acrylic markers, I strongly suggest labeling each cap. Both require a printer, and I say that from experience: I nearly ruined a project because I didn’t know how to use a printer properly.

In 2022 I printed 60 swatch cards on the office printer. I selected “best quality,” hit print, and walked away. The alignment was off, the ink bled, and one page jammed. It was a mess. Then I printed a test page, waited for the ink to dry, and did the same file again. It worked.

If you’d rather use an online printer, the prices for 500 cards are roughly $20-35 for budget tier, $35-60 for mid-range, and $60-120 for premium, based on publicly listed prices in January 2025. Shipping and setup fees are extra. That’s a transparent price check, not a quote.

The bigger lesson is total cost: the lowest quoted print price isn’t the lowest total cost if you have to reprint. The same thinking applies to paint markers versus tubes.

For standard swatch cards, an online printer is fine. For custom die-cut labels, a local shop is often better. That’s not an attack on online printers; they’re just good at different things.

Which should you choose?

I don’t have a universal answer, and you shouldn’t trust anyone who claims one. Use the scenario that fits.

• Buy Liquitex Basics acrylic paint set 12 if you’re teaching color mixing, painting on large surfaces, or need a budget-friendly real paint tool.
• Buy Liquitex acrylic markers if you need quick setup, tight line work, portability, or low cleanup.
• Buy both if you’re running a mixed workshop. Use markers for reference sketches and clean lines; use the paint set for backgrounds and color studies.

Bottom line: if you compare them on the basis of what they actually do, the right choice becomes obvious.

Final honesty checklist

Before you place an order, run the same ritual: list what’s included, list what’s not included, calculate cost per session, not cost per packet. If you want a tool for that, use a calculator the same way you’d use an ABV calculator or a Chipotle calorie calculator. The point isn’t to be perfect on the first try. The point is to stop guessing.

I still make mistakes. But I don’t make the same $3,400 one twice.