Acrylics vs. Oils

Hello fellow artists! Whether you are here’s because you are trying to find the creative path you are meant for, or just because you love art in general, you’ve come to the right place! This blog is meant to help people who have all types of artistic passions, narrow down what they really enjoy creating the most.

This week I will be discussing my the difference between acrylics and oils.

The Delimma

How do you choose between two mediums? There's so much to consider: knowledge of the mediums, cost, extra supplies needed, rules that have to be followed for a long lasting piece, personal preferences, and so much more.

Tips for getting started

When it comes to choosing, there’s only one answer: You have to give them both a try. Now, I know what you’re thinking “Ugh! I don't want to have to purchase all the supplies, and then end up wasting money if I hate it!” Believe me, I was right there with you. I went 2 full years dreading and delaying purchasing oils. I didn't want to spend the money. I was worried I would hate it and it would all be for nothing. 

But guess what? Instead, I fell in love, and now I can’t imagine turning back. 

I won’t lie. I did waste money at first. The first set of oils I tried, I ended up hating. That’s why I decided to write a blog about my mistakes when first trying oils hoping it might be helpful to someone else. Here is my biggest tip, and I hope it will help you choose what will work best for you.

Cost vs. Value

The cost of oils compared to acrylics can be daunting. However, I will say that I went through acrylics about four times quicker than I did my oils. The upfront cost can be off-putting, but the overall cost is comparable!

If you decide to purchase your first set of oils, I highly recommend that you start with only 7 small tubes. A warm and a cool tone of each of the 3 primary colors, plus a tube of titanium white. Why? Two major reasons: First, cost, obviously. Second, narrowing down your color palette to only primary colors can greatly help you achieve cohesion, and, come on, color theory is such an important lesson! This way you're not purchasing a large amount of colors with a high price tag. If you end up not liking the oils, or maybe just the brand, then the loss isn't quite as painful.

Top: Warm and cool primary colors, acrylic. Bottom: Warm and cool colors, oil.

My first experience with oils

The first set of oils I purchased were water based oils. I was told you could use them like oils, or you could use them with water. I thought this was appealing, so I purchased at least 10 different colors. When I painted with them, I instantly fell in love. They were buttery, and blended like a dream… then the dry time followed. I paint in thin layers, so I was SHOCKED when three months later the painting hadn't dried one bit! Since I paint in many thin layers, there was no way this brand was going to work for me. However, the feel of the oils and the way they blended made me want to try another brand. The second brand I tried was a winner. I can paint in a thin layer using a fast drying medium one day and by the next day, it’s usually always ready for me to paint on again. That’s when I became hooked.

This gorgeous painting was completed with an online held by Layne Johnson. I highly recommend his classes!

Acrylics can still shine

Do you think the painting above is oil, or acrylics? If your guess was oils, then you were wrong! The good news is, you don’t HAVE to use oils to get beautiful blends. In this painting, I managed to get the sky to blend beautifully. It can be a bit tougher to blend acrylics because of the dry time, but the more you practice it, the easier it is. 

Final Thoughts

So, why not give oils a try? You may end up loving it, and it could be the start of something brand new for you and your artistic process. If not, then you have gained knowledge and a better understanding of what works for you. You can always go back to acrylics and continue to paint beautiful, inspiring pieces. 

I’d love to hear about your experiences, tips or tricks! If you’ve tried both, which do you prefer and why? Leave me a comment and help inspire other artists <3

Have a beautiful day!

-Sharlea