| Miniature Painting Guide ✦ Monument Hobbies · Pro Acryl |
✦ ✧ ★ ✧ ✦ Lamp low, brushes wet, and the night is still young. Miniature Painting · Brand Guide Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl Explained: Paints, Signature Series, Primers & Basing What Pro Acryl is, how the Signature Series, Expert Acrylics, primers and basing textures fit together, and which Monument product does which job. |
 A Monument Pro Acryl 22ml bottle, with the no-clog cap. |
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| Monument Hobbies | Pro Acryl | Vallejo | The Army Painter |
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★ The quick answer What is Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl? Pro Acryl is Monument Hobbies’ water-based hobby paint for miniatures, sold in 22ml bottles with a no-clog cap that Monument says combines a dropper bottle and a twist cap. Around it sits a family: the Signature Series of colors made with well-known painters, thicker Expert Acrylics in tubes, primers, varnish and mediums, basing textures and MonumenTOOLS. This guide explains each and who it is for. |
Monument Hobbies calls itself the home of Pro Acryl paint and Pro Series brushes. If you are new to the brand, or already paint with Vallejo or The Army Painter and are curious, the sections below take it one product family at a time. Browse the whole line in our Monument Hobbies collection or the Pro Acryl collection. Every paint behaves a little differently, so test on a spare model and follow the label.
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What is Pro Acryl paint?
Pro Acryl is a water-based acrylic paint made for miniatures and models. Monument describes all of its paints as “a premium high-density pigment in superior acrylic mediums,” and says each 22ml bottle is formulated to give consistent coverage, flow and vibrancy.
- The bottle. Each bottle holds 22ml. Monument says the cap is a no-clog design that gives you the benefits of a dropper bottle and a twist cap in one.
- Coverage and finish. Monument says the paints give great coverage right out of the bottle, thin evenly to reach any level of transparency, and dry to a matte finish.
- Brush or airbrush. Monument says it formulated the paints to give the same consistency in color and coverage whether you brush or airbrush them.
- Mixing. Monument says all Pro Acryl colors mix together and can be used for any technique.
As with any acrylic, the usual habits help: shake the bottle, and build color in a couple of thin layers rather than one thick one. Thick coats hide detail, and thin coats let you correct as you go.
What is in the core Pro Acryl range?
The core range is a numbered palette of single 22ml colors, plus a few families that do special jobs. Monument’s own collection page lists these lines:
- Base colors for basecoats, layers and highlights, from neutrals and flesh tones to greens, blues and purples.
- Metallics, including gold and silver options.
- Transparents, which are see-through colors for tinting and glazing.
- Washes, including Black Wash, Brown Wash and Flesh Wash, for shading recesses.
- Fluorescents, high-visibility colors for glowing or neon details.
- 1-Step paints, which Monument describes as formulated to give vibrant color in one layer over a bright base coat.
The 1-Step idea is worth a note if you like a quick tabletop look. Monument says you apply it over a model primed a bright color, such as white, or over a zenithal primed surface, and that no special tools or techniques are necessary. Monument also makes a 1-Step Special Sauce medium, which it says can turn standard Pro Acryl colors into 1-Step paints; follow the mixing guidance on the bottle.
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What is the Pro Acryl Signature Series?
The Signature Series is a set of Pro Acryl colors made with artists from the painting community. Monument says these paints “represent colors that they use constantly,” and that they use the same Pro Acryl formula as the rest of the range. The artist’s name is on the label.
Our catalog names these Signature Series collaborators:
- Vince Venturella, the first Signature colors, S01 to S06.
- Ninjon, S07 to S12.
- Ben Komets, S13 to S18.
- Matt Cexwish, S19 to S24.
- Flameon, S25 to S30.
- Rogue Hobbies, S31 to S36.
- AdeptiCon, S37 to S42, colors Monument lists as AdeptiCon paints.
Monument presents these as curated collaborations and gives no biographies on its collection page, so we will leave it there. A simple way to shop: if you already follow one of these painters, start with their colors and see what they reach for.
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What are Expert Acrylics and AMP Colors?
Expert Acrylics are a different texture from Pro Acryl. Monument calls them the thicker, creamier version of its hobby paints, sold in 30ml tubes with a flip-top lid and aimed at painting 3D surfaces such as miniatures, models and sculptures. Monument says they hold the most pigment possible while staying creamy enough to lay flat on fine details, and that they are made not to clog small details like chainmail or facial features. Colors carry classic artist names, such as Payne’s Grey and Burnt Sienna.
AMP Colors are a Pro Acryl line Monument says was developed in partnership with the Atomic Mass Games studio and based on the Pro Acryl formula. Monument says they use the same no-clog caps, with glass agitators for quality and freshness. That is all we can confirm about them, so check each product page for details.
Which Monument primer should I choose?
Pro Acryl PRIME is Monument’s primer line, in 120ml bottles. Monument says the primers flow through an airbrush with no thinning required and clean up easily, and also work well brushed on in two quick, light coats. It describes strong adhesion so your paint grabs the model, and a matte finish. It also says each primer is color-matched to its normal Pro Acryl counterpart and advises letting it cure fully for best results.
Our catalog lists liquid primers in Black, White, Dark Neutral Grey, Dark Camo Green, Black Brown, Red Oxide, Dark Purple and Taupe, plus BrushOn White and BrushOn Black. The usual rule applies: a dark primer suits dark, moody models, and a white primer makes bright colors pop. Warm shades like Red Oxide and Taupe can help reds, browns and earthy palettes.
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What are the varnishes and mediums for?
Monument makes a Pro Acryl Matte Varnish and a Gloss Varnish in 120ml bottles. Of the matte, Monument says it can be applied with an airbrush or brush, thinned with water for various levels of finish, and used as a medium to add a more matte finish to other water-based acrylic paints. Varnish is what most painters use to protect finished paint, and a gloss coat suits wet or shiny details.
There is also a Glaze & Wash Medium, meant to be mixed with your own colors to make glazes, washes and filters. Read the label for mixing guidance, and test on a spare model first.
Brush care has a Monument product too: Jentastic’s Drunken Brush Goop, which Monument says strips old paint from a brush, conditions it and can even help re-point it, for natural or synthetic brushes.
What are Pro Acryl Basing Textures?
Monument says its basing textures are a simple way to create dirt and ground effects for miniatures and dioramas. They come in 120ml bottles in several grades, Fine, Coarse, Extra Fine and Ultra Fine, and in colors such as Grey Earth, Red Earth, Brown Earth, Golden Earth, Concrete and Snow. Monument says they can be applied with a brush and thinned with water, and are ready to paint right away or can be primed over.
The common method is to spread the texture around the base, let it dry, then drybrush it with lighter shades. Coarse grades read as gravel and rough ground, and finer grades read as packed soil or snow.
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What are MonumenTOOLS and Pro Series brushes?
MonumenTOOLS are Monument’s hobby tools. Monument’s tools page opens with the line that “having the right tools for the job is just as important in our hobby as any other.” The range includes a Mold Line / Seam Scraper, a Retractable Hobby Cutter, Flush Cut Hobby Clippers and a Hobby Nerd Cutting Mat. Cleaning mold lines and trimming parts off the sprue are the first steps of any build, so this is a handy place to start. Monument also makes Pro Series brushes for the painting itself.
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Which Monument product is right for which job?
| The job | Monument product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basecoats, layers, highlights | Pro Acryl core colors | 22ml; brush or airbrush |
| Shading recesses | Pro Acryl washes, or Glaze & Wash Medium with your colors | Black, Brown and Flesh washes |
| Quick, bold color on bright primer | Pro Acryl 1-Step paints and Special Sauce medium | Apply over white or a zenithal primer |
| Painting like a favorite artist | Signature Series | Artist name on the label |
| Thick pigment for fine detail | Expert Acrylics | 30ml tubes, creamy body |
| Colors made with a game studio | AMP Colors | Made with the Atomic Mass Games studio |
| Priming | Pro Acryl PRIME or BrushOn primers | 120ml; airbrush or brush |
| Protecting finished paint | Matte or Gloss Varnish | 120ml; brush or airbrush |
| Ground and dirt on bases | Pro Acryl Basing Textures | 120ml; Fine to Ultra Fine grades |
| Building and cleanup | MonumenTOOLS | Clippers, scraper, cutter, mat |
| Keeping brushes healthy | Jentastic’s Drunken Brush Goop | For natural or synthetic brushes |
What should I pick up first? Starter picks
Prices below are the current Saga prices and may change. Items are arriving soon, so sign up below to hear when they land.
Try the paint — about $14.18
- Monument Hobbies 040 Pro Acryl Black Brown Paint - 22ml ($4.50)
- Monument Hobbies 200 Pro Acryl Black Wash Paint - 22ml ($5.18)
- Monument Hobbies S01 Vince Venturella Dark Jade Paint - 22ml ($4.50)
A core color, a wash and a Signature Series color, enough to see how Pro Acryl flows and shades. Pick a primer color to match your palette.
Prep and prime — about $38.26
- Monument Hobbies MonumenTOOLS Flush Cut Hobby Clippers Tools ($15.53)
- Monument Hobbies MonumenTOOLS Mold Line / Seam Scraper Tools ($8.55)
- Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl PRIME 002 Black Primer - 120ml ($14.18)
Clean the build, then prime. Swap in the white primer if you paint bright colors.
Finish the base — about $25.20
- Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl Basing Textures Grey Earth FINE - 120ml Basing - 120ml ($12.60)
- Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl Basing Textures Brown Earth COARSE - 120ml Basing - 120ml ($12.60)
Two grades and two earth tones give you variety for a whole squad’s bases.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pro Acryl?
Pro Acryl is Monument Hobbies’ water-based acrylic hobby paint for miniatures, sold in 22ml bottles with a no-clog cap. Monument says it gives consistent coverage and flow and can be used by brush or airbrush.
What is the Signature Series?
It is a set of Pro Acryl colors made with painters from the community, including Vince Venturella, Ninjon, Ben Komets, Matt Cexwish, Flameon and Rogue Hobbies.
How are Expert Acrylics different from Pro Acryl?
Monument calls Expert Acrylics the thicker, creamier version of its hobby paints, sold in 30ml tubes, made to hold a lot of pigment without clogging fine details.
Do I need to prime before using Pro Acryl?
Most painters prime miniatures so paint grips the surface. Monument makes its own PRIME range, color-matched to Pro Acryl colors and usable through an airbrush or by brush.
Can I use Pro Acryl in an airbrush?
Monument says Pro Acryl is formulated to give the same consistency in color and coverage by brush or airbrush. As with any paint, test it on a spare model and follow the label.
When will Monument products be at Saga?
The shelf is being stocked now. Sign up with the form on this page and you will hear the moment it lands.
The Saga community loves painting together, so ask us about hobby nights and bring a model to work on. For more reading, try our beginner’s guide to washes, weathering, basing and airbrushing, our roundup of Army Painter sets and hobby kits, and gifts for miniature painters.
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✦ ✧ ★ ✧ ✦ A new palette is on its way. Keep the lamp lit. There is always a seat at the painting table.
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