In this category oil paint wins hands down.
Acrylic paint vs oil paint wall.
Acrylic paint dries more quickly than oil based paint within as little as 2 hours and allows a second coat to be applied as soon as 4 6 hours later.
Some artists use acrylics to start a painting because they dry so much faster then finish the painting in oils be sure the acrylics have dried completely all the way through not just touch dry on the surface before you start with the oil paint.
Depending on your goals drying time of acrylics can be a bonus or your worst nightmare.
The colours on your canvas can still be blended together.
It has less odor than oil based paint making it easier to use in enclosed spaces and it has a low temperature application down to 35 f.
Acrylic paint can be very vibrant especially if you use high quality brands but even the best acrylic paint can t match the sheer vibrancy of oil paint.
For a free les.
When to choose oil based paint.
Can t decide between oils and acrylics.
Oil based paints form a harder longer lasting coating than latex paints.
The chemicals allow the paint to expand and contract with the weather and temperature making it a good choice for home exteriors.
Not to mention that acrylic paint can slightly change its original color and turn a shade or two darker.
Acrylic paint is known for its ability to experiment.
Most modern primers or gesso is suitable for both.
Some canvas is primed for oil paint only and you shouldn t use acrylic on these.
Oil paint gives you a little extra time between swiping your paint across the canvas and drying.
The difference is that while latex is water based acrylic is chemical based.
The paint on the palette will still be wet and pliable.
Because oil paints stay wet for a lot longer than acrylics it gives you the flexibility to start a painting and then come back to it the next day and continue straight where you left off.
Acrylic paint like latex paint is made of acrylic resin.
Water based or sometimes water borne.
Acrylic paint is more likely to dry faster than you can blend it.
Oil based with a use of linseed oil or another drying oil.
Ability to experiment this is one of the most striking variations between oil and acrylics and one where acrylic paint is clearly on top.
Called mediums these substances are mix ins that allow acrylics to take on special properties that they wouldn t otherwise.
This makes it the ideal paint to experiment with.