Should I choose acrylic paint or oil paint?

At first glance, there does not seem to be a big difference between the two types of paint. But as soon as you start working with them, it becomes clear that they have two quite different color qualities and processes. It is therefore a good idea to consider exactly how you work with your creative projects to get a better idea of how to choose the right paint for your paintings.

Acrylic Paint

Since the 1950s it has been possible to buy acrylic paint, and today it is one of the most popular types of paint for both big and small projects. Acrylic paint is water-based, has high opacity, and is easily distributed on the canvas.

One of the benefits of acrylic paint is that it is easy to work with. You can apply the paint to your canvas with a sponge, paintbrush, or spatula, depending on what you prefer, and it dries quickly so you can work in several layers.

Oil Paint

Oil paint is the type of paint that many professional, classical artists work with. It takes significantly longer for it to dry, which gives you the opportunity to work with wet-on-wet, rather than layers. It can take up to several weeks and months before an oil painting is completely dry, and it is therefore a much slower process to create an oil painting than a similar acrylic painting.

Some of the benefits of oil paint are that it is easy to clean the brushes and tools after use and that you can work slowly and thoroughly with your art because it does not dry up right away.

[GetCategories 1215]