- HubPages»
- Arts and Design»
- Painting
Artsy Fartsy Part 2 Acrylic
I received a set of oil paints for my birthday back in 2005 and have been hooked on painting ever since. After a while though, I got impatient with the oil process. Unless you use the Bob Ross wet on wet technique, you must wait between layers and stages for paint to dry. Depending on the color and the thickness of your paint, sometimes you can be waiting for days or even weeks to continue a piece. So I switched to acrylic and never turned back.
The swift curing of acrylic makes it much more ideal for thick texture. If the heavy texture in the painting above ("Ladies & Gentlemen") was done in oil, it could have taken up to a year to cure thoroughly; this one cured overnight.
While I think richer colors can be achieved with oil and I love the smell of linseed, for me the time saved by switching was well worth it. The stages dry so fast that by the time you have completed one, you can usually start the next. Also, acrylic paint is water soluble so there is no smelly paint thinners to buy and clean up is a breeze.
The fast drying action of acrylic also makes it more suitable for crafts and (when varnished) outdoor decorating than oil.
Thank You for stopping by, Rodney
Comments
These are amazing, so atmospheric and full of feeling. I especially like "Waders" and the mail box! I just came from my daughter's house and she is a person who paints, what great talent to have.
- Author
Thank You, Mrs. Manning! "Waders" is one of my favorites too. The mailbox was super easy. I just cut a round template out of cardboard which I used to trace the scales with a Sharpy. Then filled them in with paint. Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day.
I quite like 'Untitled acrylic on canvas'. The way the light is shining through the trees gives it a nice atmosphere. Sharing this as well.
Beautiful! I wish I could paint. Really, these are wonderful. :)
- Author
You could paint too, CR Rookwood. I think natural talent is rare. For the rest of us it takes a love for the process, practice and the right materials. Thank You!
- Author
The untitled piece is my wife’s favorite too, phoenix2327. A gallery owner here in Louisville said she would accept it if it was framed. So we had it framed and then decided we loved it too much to part with it. Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing. It is such an inspiration to know my work is appreciated.
Thank you for showing us your beautiful work. I do a little drawing, but have never painted. I didn't realize oil could be such a long process between layers. Glad for your sake you found acrylic, Kathi
- Author
Immense gratitude! I highly recommend painting; if you can get the consistency of your paint just right, it’s like drawing with color and if you go with acrylic, mistakes can be covered after a short drying time or in many cases erased with your finger before it dries.
Thanks for reading!
8