Your guide to the Schmincke Akademie series

Schmincke - more than 140 years of craftsmanship

Schmincke was founded in 1881 in Düsseldorf by Josef Horadam and Hermann Schmincke. Their vision was to develop the best artist colors on the market, and right from the start, quality and innovation became the core of the company. Today, more than 140 years later, Schmincke is still family-owned and known worldwide for their uncompromising craftsmanship and high pigment standards.

The company's motto, "Meliora Cogito" (Latin for "I strive for the better"), permeates the entire range - from the exclusive HORADAM watercolors to the more accessible series like Akademie. Schmincke still produces all their colors in Germany, where tradition, research and modern technology go hand in hand.

Schmincke Akademie - Acrylic, Oil, Gouache & Ink

The Schmincke Akademie range is developed for ambitious beginners, students and professionals who want high quality without compromise. The series covers the main painting media - acrylic, oil, gouache and ink - providing a complete foundation for play, learning and serious artistic work.

What can it be used for?

The Akademie series gives you the opportunity to work across techniques:

• Acrylic & Ink: From classic brush strokes to airbrush, calligraphy and mixed media.
• Oil: Perfect for traditional oil paintings, layering and deep color mixing.
• Gouache: Suitable for illustration, design, teaching and art therapy.

The benefits of Schmincke Akademie

Schmincke Akademie Acrylic & Ink

• 52 standard colors + 8 effect tones including gold, silver and neon.
• High brilliance and good balance between opacity and transparency.
• Cadmium-free and lightfast pigments.
• Available in tubes, bottles and practical paint sets.
• Can be combined with other Schmincke ranges(PRIMAcryl, College, AERO COLOR).

The Ink version is the liquid version of the acrylic color - ideal for brush, pipette, dip or airbrush.

Schmincke Akademie Oil

• 48 colors, all with the highest lightfastness (★★★★/★★★★★).
• Four different shades of white for both blending and underpainting.
• Smooth consistency and harmonious drying time thanks to sunflower oil.
• Available in 60 ml and 200 ml tubes and titanium white in larger buckets.
• Can be mixed with other Schmincke oil colors(MUSSINI, NORMA, College).

Schmincke Akademie Gouache

• 30 matt, opaque colors, incl. gold and silver.
• High lightfastness and high color intensity.
• Can be reactivated with water and overpainted without problems.
• Ideal for paper, cardboard and educational use.
• Can be combined with HORADAM and Designers Gouache.

Tips & Tricks

• Use acrylic and ink together for modern mixed media effects.
• Remember the classic rule of oil painting: "fat over lean" for durable layers.
• Gouache can be dissolved again after drying - perfect for corrections and experimentation.
• With primary yellow, magenta and cyan you can mix pure secondary colors across media.

Which surfaces can be used?

• Acrylic & Ink: canvas, acrylic paper, wood, painting boards and other clean, grease-free surfaces.
• Oil: primed canvas, oil paint paper or wood.
• Gouache: paper, cardboard and other absorbent surfaces.

Why choose Schmincke Akademie?

Because you get quality German craftsmanship, thoughtful color selection and materials that both inspire and challenge. The range is designed to support learning and development - while delivering professional results. Whether you want to explore color theory in class, create deep oil paintings or play with mixed media, you can trust Schmincke Akademie to deliver.