Are you new to the world of painting and wondering what the difference is between acrylic paint and oil paint? Or are you an experienced painter looking for some new inspiration? Either way, we've got you covered! In this blog, we delve deeper into the difference between acrylic paint and oil paint, so you can better understand which paint is best for your project. Here's what you can expect:

• A clear explanation of what acrylic paint is and why it's great
• A brief introduction to oil paint and why it has inspired painters for centuries
• The key differences between oil paint and acrylic paint
• Ideas for projects using both oil paint and acrylic paint to get your creativity flowing

What is acrylic paint?

Acrylic paint is a popular choice among painters due to its versatility and fast drying time. It is a water-based paint that consists of pigments suspended in an acrylic emulsion. This allows it to be used on a variety of surfaces such as canvas, paper, wood, and even fabric! It dries quickly, which means you can build up layers and work quickly on your masterpiece. With acrylic paint, you can apply numerous different techniques, such as layering, glazing, and impasto.

What is oil paint?

Oil paint has a rich history and has been used by artists for centuries. It is composed of pigments mixed with a binder of oil, usually flaxseed oil. Oil paint is known for its slow drying time, allowing you more time to blend and add details to your work. This makes it ideal for detailed, realistic paintings. Oil paint is often used for its rich colours and deep gloss, and it can be thinned with turpentine or other solvents for various effects.

Differences between oil paint and acrylic paint

You can get oil paint and acrylic paint in many different colours, both are easily mixable allowing you to create any shade you want, and both types of paint allow you to apply various different techniques. However, there are also significant differences between the two types:

• Drying time: The biggest difference between oil paint and acrylic paint is the drying time. Acrylic paint dries quickly, while oil paint dries slower, giving painters more time to work on a single layer.
• Base: Oil paint uses an oil-based medium, such as flaxseed oil. Acrylic paint has water as a base but can be mixed with various mediums to adjust consistency and drying time.
• Mixability: Acrylic paint is easy to mix, even after it has dried, while oil paint is harder to mix once it starts to dry.
• Layering: Acrylic paint can be easily applied in multiple layers without affecting the underlying layers, while oil paint takes longer to dry in between layers.
• Gloss: Oil paint naturally has a rich, glossy finish, while acrylic paint can be finished with different degrees of gloss, depending on the medium used.
• Colour change after drying: Oil paint can darken after drying due to oxidation, while acrylic paint usually retains the same colour after drying.
• Cost: Oil paint can be more expensive due to the higher cost of pigments and mediums. Acrylic paint is generally cheaper than oil paint.
• Odour and toxicity: Oil paint generally has a strong odour from solvents and is more toxic than acrylic paint. Acrylic paint generally has a less strong odour and is less toxic than oil paint.

 Projects with oil paint vs projects with acrylic paint

Whether you're working with oil paint or acrylic paint, there are endless ways to express your creativity. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Portrait painting

• Acrylic paint: Create portraits of friends, family members, or inspiring individuals with acrylic paint. Use photos as reference and experiment with different brushstrokes and colour blends to create expressive portraits.
• Oil paint: Try painting a classic portrait with oil paint. The slow drying time allows you to create subtle transitions in shadow and colour, resulting in a realistic outcome.

Landscape paintings

• Acrylic paint: Paint beautiful landscapes and nature scenes with acrylic paint. Choose an inspiring location or use photos as reference to bring mountains, forests, water features, and more to life on canvas.
• Oil paint: Paint stunning landscapes with oil paint on canvas. Draw inspiration from the natural beauty around you and create lush forests, serene lakes, majestic mountains, and colourful sunsets with beautiful colour transitions.

Seascapes

• Paint beautiful seascapes with oil paint, including beaches, waves, sailboats, and lighthouses. Experiment with mixing colours to capture the movement and light of the ocean.

Mixed media art

• Combine acrylic paint with other materials such as stamps, markers, and texture paste to create interesting mixed media artworks. Let your imagination run wild and experiment with different techniques and materials. Read our full blog on Mixed media art to learn more about this technique.

Now that you know the difference between acrylic paint and oil paint, you're ready to tackle your next art project! Whether you prefer the speed of acrylic paint or the traditional charm of oil paint, there's no limit to what you can create. So grab your brushes and unleash your creativity to create your own masterpiece!