When people are first learning how to paint, they’re often given a single medium for them to practice with first. Both oil and acrylic are often recommended to beginners due to their ease of mastery. However, which one you choose will depend a lot on what you’re trying to achieve and your own personal preferences. To make your decision easier, read on to find out the major differences between oil painting and acrylic painting.
Oil Painting
Oil paints are made up of pigments and oil. As a result, oil can stay wet for much longer than acrylic. This gives you a lot of flexibility in what you’re painting, allowing you to cover up mistakes or change a particular section with ease. This also leads to a beautiful blending of color on the canvas that can help you create more subtle transitions in your painting. Keep in mind, though, that while it may be easier to blend colors, it will be harder to create clear, crisp edges and delineations.
Acrylic Painting
Acrylic paints are made up of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion. As opposed to oil paints, acrylic dries quickly, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference. If you don’t want to wait around for your painting to dry, then a fast-drying paint is what you’re looking for. However, this also means that it’s more difficult to blend your colors and achieve soft edges. Nevertheless, if you’re opting for clear, crisp lines and edges, then a fast-drying paint can help you achieve this with colors that won’t fade over time.
No matter which medium you choose, when you’re first learning to paint, it’s best to learn from someone who knows what they’re doing. Here at Creative Ventures Gallery, we offer both oil and acrylic painting classes. Sign up today or give us a call for more information.