Acrylic Paint vs Oil Paint. What Should You Use?

Acrylic Paint vs Oil Paint. What Should You Use?

In the initial creative excitement of starting a new painting, inexperienced artists often give no thought to what materials to use to increase the chances of their artistic idea becoming a success. There are many choices that need to be made, including the type of support, the best ground, and finally the correct paint. Upcoming articles will cover these key painting layers. Today I want to focus on the two most popular choices for the paint layer: Acrylic and Oil-Based paints.

If the artist has decided to paint on a canvas or a wood panel, one of the first decisions to make is to use either acrylic paints or oil paints. Often the artist grabs what is convenient, what is cheapest, or what their friend uses to paint with. They give no thought to which paint is most likely to give them a good result. To make that crucial choice, artists first need to know the characteristics of each type of paint. Only then can they pick the right paint to create their image.

ACRYLIC PAINTS

Acrylic Paints are paints are made from pigment particles which are suspended in a polymer emulsion binder that uses water as a vehicle of transport. Because they are water-based, they dry quickly making them great for layering and working quickly. This fast-drying feature is one reason for the popularity of acrylic paints. Also, because of their chemical profile, these type paints stay flexible and lightfast after drying. Acrylics can be successfully used on many different surfaces including canvas, wood, plastic, metal, glass, stone, and fabric. They do not emit harmful fumes and are non-toxic. There are many different compatible additives to acrylic paints that allow for techniques ranging from thin, transparent layers to thick, textural surfaces. Finally, clean-up is easy, with just soap and water, no toxic solvents. Disadvantages include a short blending time, potential color shift (darkening as they dry), difficulty removing dried paint from tools, and a tendency for a glossy finish, which can be challenging for smooth, subtle transitions.

Advantages (Pros)

Fast Drying: Allows for quick layering and working over sections without smudging.

Versatile: Can mimic watercolors (thinned with water) or oils (with mediums) and adhere to many surfaces.

Water-Soluble (Wet): Easy cleanup with soap and water, no harsh solvents needed.

Durable & Flexible (Dry): Forms a tough, waterproof layer resistant to cracking, peeling, and fading.

Vibrant Colors: Produces bright, vivid hues.

Low Odor: Safer for indoor or enclosed spaces compared to oils.

Affordable: Generally, less expensive than oils.

Disadvantages (Cons)

Fast Drying: Limits blending time and can dry quickly on palettes and brushes, requiring quick cleaning.

Color Shift: Dries darker than it appears when wet, making color matching tricky.

Hard to Remove (Dry): Once dry, it is permanent and difficult to get out of clothes or off tools.

Blending Challenges: Smooth, subtle color transitions (like oil painting's "wet-on-wet") are harder to achieve.

Finish: Can dry to a glossy finish, though mediums can alter this.

Quality Varies: Cheaper student grades can be less pigmented and perform poorly.

Tips to Address Disadvantages

For Slow Blending: Use retarders or wet palettes to keep paint workable longer.

For Color Shift: Practice to learn how much darker colors become or use color shifters.

For Brush Care: Clean brushes at once after use with soap and water.

OIL PAINTS

 Oil paint is composed of colored pigment mixed with a drying oil, most commonly either linseed oil, walnut oil, or poppyseed oil. which hardens (oxidizes) into a durable film. Oil paints offer artists incredible blending, rich color, and long working times due to slow drying, allowing for seamless transitions and rework; however, they demand solvents for cleanup, can be expensive, and require significant ventilation due to potentially toxic fumes, with slow drying also meaning longer waits for completion and potential for muddy colors if worked too soon.

Advantages (Pros)

Slow Drying Time: Allows for extended blending, reworking, subtle color transitions (wet-on-wet), and easy correction of mistakes.

Rich Colors & Luster: Produces luminous, vibrant, and lifelike colors that do not dry darker, enhancing light and shadow.

Versatility: Highly malleable and forgiving, great for detailed work and impasto.

Durability: Creates hard-wearing, long-lasting paintings.

Disadvantages (Cons)

Slow Drying: Can be inconvenient for fast-paced work or layering quickly; requires patience.

Health & Safety: Solvents (like turpentine) used for thinning and cleaning produce toxic fumes, requiring good ventilation and safety precautions.

Complex Cleanup: Tools and brushes need special solvents for proper cleaning.

Cost: Generally, more expensive than other paints, especially for quality pigments.

Risk of Muddy Colors: Wet paint can easily mix unintentionally, creating dull colors if not handled carefully.

Modern Solution

Water-Soluble Oils: A newer option that provides oil paint benefits (blending, slow dry) but cleans up with water, reducing solvent issues.

To conclude, make an intentional choice of what type of paints to use, based on your painting goal and personal painting style.