ldakersMaimeri Polycolor Vinyl Paint
Within the various art forms, many artists are constantly looking for ways to improve their work. As a painter, I too am always looking for materials that can facilitate my creative process. Lately, I was mostly focused on acrylic paints because they dry quickly, are reasonably opaque and apply smoothly. Yet I was looking for paints that offer even more flexibility – that is, better flow and coverage. On social media, I saw artists who seemed to paint a complete outline of a face with one stroke. Until now, I had not managed to replicate this technique.
When I got the chance to try out Maimeri’s Polycolor Vinyl paint, my curiosity was piqued! I had never used this paint before. Was this the paint I was looking for? Vinyl paint is a water-based paint with vinyl resin as the binder, which provides (or according to the internet should provide) unique suppleness and strong coverage. But how does this paint perform in practice? I tested it out!
Substrate & testing process
To test the properties of the vinyl paint, I used several substrates:
- Tear-off palette (30×40 cm) – I LOVE ART: For applying and mixing the paint.
- Mixed-media spiral pad (29.7 x 42 cm) – I LOVE ART: For carrying out various tests, to get a first impression of the colours, drying speed and opacity.
- Canvas board (30×40 cm) – Gerstaecker: On this, I made an actual artwork to experience the paint in a real application.
To apply the paint, I used various brushes from Gerstaecker and Da Vinci. An ergonomic detail brush (number 6, synthetic hair) turned out to be my favourite.
First Impression
Maimeri Polycolor Vinyl Paint is sold exclusively by Gerstaecker and comes in 54 colours. For my test, I used 11 colours:
• 018 Titanium White
• 074 Brilliant Yellow
• 100 Lemon Yellow
• 116 Primary Yellow
• 131 Yellow Ochre
• 072 Orange Yellow
• 278 Burnt Sienna
• 256 Primary Red-Magenta
• 400 Primary Blue – Cyan
• 390 Ultramarine
• 530 Nero Black
Seeing the packaging of the various tubes and jars, I felt like a kid in a sweet shop. Especially with the jars, certain colours immediately stood out. The colours seemed to exactly match the colour-swatch on the label. With the tubes, the paint was not yet visible on the outside. Since colour samples can sometimes differ from reality, I was curious to see the real colours. How would the paint present itself on paper or canvas board? There was only one way to find out!
I first painted a number of areas with 1 colour. There was 1 surface for all 11 colours, so I could get a good overview of how the colours looked, whether the colours were opaque and how smoothly the paint could be applied. The paint applied very smoothly, as if I was
working with butter on a warm bread knife. Great!
Vinyl paint versus acrylic paint
My style is characterised by surrealistic, even and colourful segments. As mentioned earlier, I usually use acrylic paint because of its fast-drying time and even result. However, acrylic paint (depending on the quality and colour) requires several layers for full coverage. This is where vinyl paint comes in: its coverage and fast drying time are impressive!
Opacity: A pleasant surprise
To test the covering power, I painted a line with the other 10 colours over all 11 coloured areas. The test with Titanium White over Nero Black was particularly promising: a single coat was enough to completely cover the black paint. This is a huge advantage, as I normally need several coats of white acrylic paint for an even result. This makes the vinyl paint time – and material-saving – a relief for someone like me, who sometimes gets impatient when a work takes too long.
Suppleness: Smooth and Tight
While painting on canvas board, I immediately noticed that the suppleness of the paint is excellent. The paint flowed effortlessly without lumps or ‘streakiness’. This is a big plus when you want to create clean lines or smooth transitions. It felt (perhaps a little exaggerated) like I was gliding across the canvas with silk.
Vibrant Colours
Colour is one of the most important aspects of my work. The colours of the Maimeri Polycolor Vinyl Paint are powerful, deep and exactly as you would hope. Online colour samples can sometimes differ from reality, but here I was positively surprised: the actual colours were even more intense than expected. This is ideal for artists who like vibrant, expressive paintings.
Mixability
I like to mix my own colours and was curious to see how the vinyl paint behaves in this. Fortunately, it turned out that the colours mix easily without losing intensity. The pigments remain bright and powerful, allowing you to create a wide range of shades.
Evaluation and Conclusion
After extensive testing, I am incredibly enthusiastic about the Maimeri Polycolor Vinyl Paint. The paint has excellent pigmentation, powerful coverage and fine suppleness. The fast-drying process makes it possible to quickly build up layers without having to wait long. Moreover, the paint adheres well to various substrates, from canvas to mixed-media paper.
This paint genuinely surprised me and will definitely have a permanent place in my material collection. For artists looking for a versatile, flexible and opaque paint, this is highly recommended!
My name is Cheyenne Zoë Cheyenne Zoë. I am a visual artist and psychologist. In 2024, I graduated in Clinical Neuropsychology from the University of Amsterdam. The depths of the human mind fascinate me. By this I mean our emotional world and the inner drives that can drive sometimes complex behaviour. When I make art, I am constantly looking for ways to unravel this inner world and transform it into powerful visual language. Colour plays a big role here. I use it to amplify emotions and make the unconscious visible. With my art, I try to show how our thoughts and feelings can (distort) and how the line between reality and imagination sometimes blurs.
© 2025 – text: Cheyenne Zoe & editors Gerstaecker NL | © 2025 – image: Cheyenne Zoe,
Maimeri Polycolor Vinyl Paint® & editors Gerstaecker NL
Add comment