If you’re new to painting, you’ve probably heard that acrylic paint is perfect for beginners, and that’s true. Still, you may wonder about other types of paint, how they differ from acrylic paint, and if they’re a better fit for your painting needs. One type of paint that’s often compared to acrylics is oil paint. Both can produce beautiful works of art, but they have unique properties and characteristics. Knowing these differences can help you make a more informed decision for your recycled surfboards wall art.
Acrylic Paints vs. Oil Paints
If you’re curious about how each paint’s characteristics can influence your next painting project, you’re in the right place. We will explore the differences between acrylic and oil paints, compare their advantages and disadvantages, and help you choose the right type for your artistic needs.
What Are Acrylic Paints?
Acrylic paint, first used in the 1950s, has become one of the most popular types of paint today. This type of paint consists of pigments suspended in an acrylic emulsion, which acts as a binder for the pigments. Most acrylic paints use water as a vehicle. When the water evaporates, the pigments left behind stack up onto each other, held together by the acrylic binder. This water use makes acrylic paints water-soluble and dry faster than oil paints.
Advantages of Acrylic Paints
Because of their composition and water solubility, acrylic paints have certain characteristics that artists of any skill level can find advantageous. These include:
- Vibrant Colors: Acrylic paints come in a wide variety of rich colors, thanks to natural or synthetic pigments. For instance, Nova Color offers over 90+ vibrant colors that you can mix and blend to create a nearly infinite number of shades and tones for all your painting needs.
- Versatile on Most Surfaces: Acrylic paints stick to any porous surface, especially when prepared and primed correctly.
- Safe and Non-toxic: Most acrylic paints use non-toxic ingredients, making them safe to use even without gloves.
- Quick Drying: Acrylic paints dry much faster than oil paints. For example, Nova Color paints dry to the touch in about 30 minutes and completely dry between 1 ½ to 2 hours.
- Easy to Use: Being water-based, you won’t need toxic chemicals to thin your acrylic paints. This also makes it easier to clean accidental paint splatters and paintbrushes using just ordinary soap and water.
- Durable: Acrylic paints tend to keep their color longer, even without being sealed by varnish. They are also more resistant to physical damage and can retain their vibrant look longer when varnished.
- Widely Accessible: Acrylic paints are more affordable and accessible to every painter, from beginners to seasoned artists, because they can use natural or synthetic pigments and be diluted with ordinary tap water.
- Versatile: Acrylic paints can be mixed and blended with other acrylic paints, acrylic mediums, and additives, allowing for unique qualities and effects.
Disadvantages of Acrylic Paints
The same characteristics that make acrylic paints a joy to use for some artists can make them a bad choice for others. Their disadvantages include:
- Choice Overload: The wide range of colors can lead to choice paralysis for beginners. Pro tip: Start with classic rainbow colors plus pure white, pure black, and medium brown.
- Darkening When Dry: Acrylic paints darken once they dry. Pro tip: Restore brightness by sealing them with gloss varnish once they dry.
- Quick Drying Time: Acrylic paints dry quickly, requiring you to work faster and replenish your palette more often. Pro tip: Use an acrylic retarder to extend your working time.
- Limited to Porous Surfaces: While acrylic paints stick well on porous surfaces, they don’t adhere well to nonporous surfaces like glass, metal, and some plastics without proper preparation and priming.
- Hard to Remove Once Dry: Acrylic paints are easy to clean with soap and water when wet but harder to remove once dry. Pro tip: Always clean up immediately and protect your workspace.
- Quality Variability: Not all acrylic paints are created equal. Cheaper brands may offer lesser quality. Pro tip: Invest in higher-quality paints for better results.
What Are Oil Paints?
Oil paints, invented as early as the 7th century, gained widespread popularity in the 15th century. This type of paint consists of pigments suspended in a slow-drying oil, usually linseed oil. Because oil takes quite a long time to dry, oil paints generally take 6-8 hours to become dry to the touch and a full 24 hours before a second coat can be applied.
Advantages of Oil Paints
Being oil-based gives oil paints certain characteristics that some artists find advantageous. These include:
- Longer Work Time: Oil paints take hours to dry, giving artists more time to work on their painting without worrying about the paints drying too quickly.
- Deeper and Wider Color Range: Oil paints can be layered and mixed thoroughly, allowing for subtle nuances in color and depth.
- Versatility: Oil paints are suitable for many painting techniques, such as glazing and impasto.
- Predictable Color: Oil paints remain the same color even after drying, making the finished results more predictable.
Disadvantages of Oil Paints
The characteristics that make oil paints great for some artists can make them disadvantageous for others. Their disadvantages include:
- Slow Drying Time: Oil paints’ slow drying time can be a drawback for artists who wish to apply several washes quickly. They also require a longer time to cure fully before being varnished, which can take months to a year.
- Muddling Colors: Blending oil paints on the canvas requires skill to avoid muddying colors, which can be challenging for beginners.
- Color Changes with Age: Oil paints, particularly those using linseed oil, can yellow or darken over time. Higher-quality materials can prevent this, but they may not be widely available or affordable for the average artist.
- Requires Toxic Chemicals: Oil paints require chemicals like turpentine or white spirits for thinning and cleaning, making them harder to use in small, enclosed spaces.
- Less Accessible: The pigments used in oil paints are harder to find and produce, making them more expensive and less accessible.
- Quality Variability: High-quality oil paints can be out of reach for most artists, leading to cheaper, lesser-quality alternatives.
Comparing Acrylic and Oil Paints
To make it easier to compare these two popular painting mediums, let’s look at them through several factors:
- Color Vibrancy and Saturation: Both acrylic and oil paints now stand on par with each other in terms of color richness, thanks to advances in pigment technology.
- Mixing and Blending: High-quality acrylic paints can be as easy to mix and blend as oil paints. However, oil paints are generally easier to mix and blend due to their longer working time.
- Health and Safety: Both types of paint are non-toxic and safe to use, but oil paints require toxic chemicals for thinning and cleaning, making them less suitable for small, enclosed spaces.
- Cost and Accessibility: Acrylic paints are easier to produce, making them more affordable and accessible to artists of all levels.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice between acrylic and oil paints depends on your preferences and painting needs for home wall decor. Consider the characteristics and benefits of each type to determine which one is the best fit for your artistic projects.
