One must look at numerous aspects before choosing between acrylics and oil paints. People may have suggestions about paint types based on their experiences, but it isn’t as easy a task as it seems because they both look close. However, they have various distinguishable features.
Acrylic vs Oil Paint
The main difference between Acrylic and Oil paint is that acrylics are much easier to clean and control than oil paints. Acrylics dry faster, whereas oil paints dry at a much slower rate. Both of these have pros and cons depending on the purpose it is used for.
The acrylic painting uses acrylic paint after diluting it with water. It is convenient to use due to its quick-drying tendency and effortless application, but it is not waterproof. It is made from acrylic acid and is used in plexiglass and lucite products.
Oil paints are primarily used on materials, woods, metals, and plastics to make them stay longer. Oil paints have a sleek base and are therefore suitable for groundwork base application, which helps them stay longer and intact with the object.
Comparison Table Between Acrylic and Oil Paints
| Parameters of Comparison | Acrylic | Oil Paint |
| Drying time | Acrylic dry much faster due to its watery base | Due to the oily base of oil paint, it takes time to dry completely |
| Blending and mixing of colors | One has to mix the colors and blend fast as it dries very quickly, giving no time to the painter | It is very convenient to handle and mix as it doesn’t dry out quickly, which gives time to the painter |
| Color quality | Acrylic paint is seemingly flat and dense | Oil paints are more viscose and thick in quality |
| Cost | Acrylic costs much less than oil paint | Oil paint is budget-friendly and the only costly affair is the solvent used in it |
| Durability | Acrylic lasts longer. However, they are not accustomed to bad weather conditions. Therefore will lose their charm with time | It can brave bad weather conditions and does not lose its luster with time |
| Lightfast quality | Acrylics last longer but they are affected by weather conditions | Oil paints last longer as per the studies |
What is Acrylic?
Oil paint is composed of pigment particles spread in an acrylic polymer emulsion. The three main components of oil paints are – Binder, pigment, and vehicle. Acrylics dry much more quickly (approx 10-12 minutes) for a single coating and some extra time for double coating.
One person can clean up only till the time it is not dry. Once dried, they cannot be reversed. These are available in many ranges depending on their consistency and mediums. Moreover, they can be applied to any surface. Furthermore, these are low in odor free from fumes, and non-flammable.
Acrylics can be used in mixed sources, too; pastels, charcoal pens, and other materials can be used on acrylic-applied surfaces. Furthermore, acrylics can be mixed with rice, sand, and other materials, broadening their usage area. Acrylics can be washed easily as they are not water-resistant.
What is Oil Paint?
Oil paints are the pigment of paints suspended in drying oil that provides a glossy surface. The tremendous facility of fusing it with various tones makes it exclusive among all the available fluid paintings. Oil paints have a tough job when it comes to cleaning as it is a waterfall medium.
Furthermore, satisfying results are obtained as they can be applied to different materials without diminishing their quality and purpose. Oil paints are available in opaque, translucent, and transparent mediums, making them even more demanding.
Oil painting techniques seem technically harder to achieve, but the learning curve improves with time and effort. Oil paints are stronger in smell as compared to acrylics. Lastly, simpler, easier techniques can be conquered, giving fresh breath into the work.
Main Differences Between Acrylic and Oil Paint
- Acrylic is easy for students as it can be thinned, dried, and applied easily, whereas oil paints take more time to dry on the surface, making it possible for the artist to change or blend colors easily.
- Acrylic can go easily with any material such as sand, rice, chalk, etc, whereas oil paints are used on hard surfaces such as wood, metallic surfaces, brick walls, etc.
- Both oil paint and acrylic have different reactions to light. Oil paint tends to fade away easily, whereas acrylic can last longer.
- Both have different blending capabilities. It is easier to blend oil paint due to their suspended pigments, whereas acrylics give tough competition in mixing with other colors unless done very quickly.
- Oil paint proves to be smudgy with cleaning works and, therefore, hard to change once dried, whereas acrylic goes well properly as they are not waterproof.
Conclusion
Oil paint and acrylic are wonderful ways of applying paints; it depends on the craftsman to utilize them to the best of their use. The foundational ingredients are the same in both of these; the only difference lies in the ease of painting.
If someone is a newbie in the world of colors, the best recommendation is to do a hit-and-trial method, starting with acrylic, as it is user-friendly and consistent with painting.
It will acquaint the person with the fundamentals of paintings and make the boat easier to sail in the new water. Once settled in, one may choose to switch the medium of coloring.
References
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ngakan-Ketut-Acwin-Dwijendra/publication/340593341_Visual_Exploration_Using_Acrylic_Paint_on_Used_Fashion_Items_for_Sustainable_Use/links/5ff1ff42a6fdccdcb8273e31/Visual-Exploration-Using-Acrylic-Paint-on-Used-Fashion-Items-for-Sustainable-Use.pdf
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/sic.2000.45.Supplement-1.65
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