Everyone appreciates artwork. However, only a few know much about the paintings. And a few of them can differentiate between oil painting and acrylic paintings. These mediums are similar to a great extent but still have many differences.
The differences are the aspects that make these mediums unique. Knowing the difference between acrylic painting and oil painting is the starting point of your journey in the world of art. Whether you like to buy paintings online or are beginners starting your journey in the field, it is the basics you should know.
To make things easier, here summarise the points that make these mediums different. However, before jumping to differences, let’s know what these two mediums are.
Oil painting
There is no secret that oil painting that oil paint. It is the binder that gives the properties to the oil paints. Oil works as the binder in the oil pain. Usually, artists use linseed oil and pigments in oil paints for binding and providing property to the colours. Oil paints have a thick consistency, so artists use thinning agents to thin it out before using the colours.
You know all the famous paintings of the world are oil paintings. It is also the painting style by Lana Zueva, the oil painting artist with a love for art. Lana Zueva artist who is in love with oil paint. It is not just her favourite medium. Lana Zueva adores it because oil paints translate the feelings and moods in the best possible way to extend the message all the time. Oil paints also bring energy to the art piece.
Oil paint has the richness of the oils that makes it the most preferred medium. It adds a layer of colours and gives depth to the paintings.
Acrylic painting
Acrylic paints mimic oil paints, but have extra advantages like quick drying time. They combine binders like acrylic polymer with pigments to create acrylic colours. Sometimes, silicon oils, plasticizers or metal soaps take the place of binders for acrylic paints.
Now you know about both the mediums. It’s time to check out the differences making these mediums unique.
Differences in oil and acrylic paints
You can see the difference in every aspect of these mediums, from composition to texture and form lightness to vibrancy.
Let’s start with oil paint.
- Oil paint takes a lot of time in drying.
- Oil paint needs extra supplies like primer, thinner and a pallet knife.
- No medium can compare to oil paint when it comes to versatility.
- When concerning safety, oil paints are dangerous as they can create fumes.
- It takes a lot of time and effort to clean after oil painting.
- Oil paints are a combination of pigments and slow drying oil.
On the other hand, acrylic paints take only a few minutes for drying. They only need basic supplies and no extra supplies for painting. Acrylic paints have many applications. They are no match to oil paint in terms of versatility.
Compared to oil paints, acrylic paints are safer. At the same time, acrylic paints are easy to clean as they are water-based – colours.
