Acrylic and oil painting — the two queens of painting techniques
Choosing between acrylic and oil painting is one of the most important decisions every artist faces — beginner and experienced alike. Both techniques have devoted followers and offer unique possibilities for artistic expression. Understanding the differences between them will help you make an informed choice of the medium that best suits your way of working and the effects you want to achieve.
How acrylic painting differs from oil painting
Composition and thinning
The fundamental difference lies in the binder that holds the pigments together. Oil paints use oil (linseed, poppy or sunflower) as a binder, which means they have to be thinned with turpentine or other oil solvents. Acrylic painting, by contrast, is based on acrylic polymers thinned with water, making it far kinder to the environment and to the artist’s health.
Drying time — the key difference
It is drying time that most often decides the choice of technique. Acrylic paints dry extremely quickly — usually within 15-30 minutes — and cure fully within a few hours. Oil paints can take anywhere from several days to several weeks to dry, depending on the thickness of the layer and the type of oil.
This has huge practical consequences. The fast drying of acrylic allows successive layers to be applied on the same day, but limits the time available for blending colours directly on the canvas. The slower pace of oil makes it possible to model form at length, create subtle tonal transitions and refine details over many days.
Colour intensity and permanence
Acrylic paints darken slightly as they dry and become matt unless they are varnished. Oil colours retain their depth and intensity, acquiring a characteristic sheen over time. It is worth remembering, however, that modern high-quality acrylic paints offer excellent colour permanence and resistance to fading.
Techniques and artistic possibilities
Acrylic painting — versatility and spontaneity
Acrylic is an extremely flexible medium. You can work wet-on-wet with it (using drying retarders), create transparent glazes or build thick, expressive impasto-like textures. Acrylic paints combine beautifully with other media — they can serve as an underpainting for oil, but also work alongside ink, crayons or pastels.
This technique is ideal for abstract painting, where dynamism and spontaneity of gesture matter. It is equally suited to realism, though — many contemporary artists achieve almost photorealistic effects in acrylic.
Oil painting — the mastery of sfumato and depth
For centuries, oil has been regarded as the “master’s” technique, allowing the subtlest painterly effects. The ability to work on the same passage of a painting for hours, to create imperceptible tonal transitions and the richness of texture mean that this technique remains irreplaceable in classical figurative and portrait painting.
Magdalena Dziejma, a Polish painter from Białystok working in the tradition of magical realism, uses both oil and acrylic on canvas. Her painting “Depth of Consciousness” shows a masterly combination of precise realist craftsmanship and a dreamlike atmosphere — an effect made possible by a deliberate use of the properties of both techniques.
Practical aspects — which to choose for yourself
Who acrylic painting is for
- Artists working in small, poorly ventilated spaces
- Those who value a fast pace of work and the ability to create many layers in a single day
- Painters who like to experiment with different media and textures
- Beginners — acrylic is more forgiving of mistakes
- Creators of monumental works and murals (simpler logistics)
Who oil painting is for
- Artists working in the classical technique who value traditional craftsmanship
- Portraitists and realists who need plenty of time to model form
- Painters who enjoy a contemplative pace of work
- Artists who value richness of texture and depth of colour
- Artists with access to a well-ventilated studio
Cost and availability of materials
Acrylic paints are generally cheaper than oils in the student and mid-range segments. At professional level, the price differences disappear. Bear in mind, though, that acrylic requires additional products (drying retarders, mediums) to achieve certain effects, while oil requires solvents and oils.
Both acrylic and oil paints are available in a wide range of qualities — from student paints to top-class artist-grade paints with a high pigment content.
Can the two techniques be combined?
Yes! Many contemporary artists work in a hybrid way. A popular approach is an acrylic underpainting — starting the work in acrylic (which serves as a fast-drying underpainting) and finishing with oil details. The reverse order is not recommended, as oil beneath acrylic can cause the paint layer to crack.
Summary — there is no wrong choice
Both acrylic and oil painting are wonderful techniques with a rich tradition and limitless possibilities. The choice depends on your way of working, your studio conditions, your preferred pace and the effects you want to achieve. Many artists experiment with both techniques for years, discovering their unique qualities.
The best advice? Try both. Only practice will show which technique resonates more with your artistic sensibility and lets you express your creative vision most fully.