Tuesday, March 04, 2008

oil vs acrylic

I've noticed in a lot of the art I like, particularly my fellow blogger, ebay artists, and etsy artists, very very few will incorporate oils. I wonder why this is. Is the the intimidation factor? Not being familiar with them? The ease of acrylics? The speed of acrylics?
I have worked primarily with acrylics the last 3 years, and recently in the last 6 months or so, have begun exploring oils.
Wow
Where have you been all my life. They are so beautiful.
lush
sensitive
bold
ethereal
forgiving

I've begun doing backgrounds and underpaintings with acrylic because I can get a lot built up very quickly.
But when it's time to paint, I get out the oils.
Yes, there are problems with them.
The clean-up
The odors.
I think I'm a bit delirious right now because I've been painting in my basement studio, with the windows closed, because were in the middle of a small snowstorm, and my turpenoid jar open.
That's the part I really don't like, the fumes.
But everything else I either deal with or Love Love Love
I work sporadically. I walk away from the painting alot. I can always pick back up at most any time and continue.

Just wondering what others thought...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think there are waterbased (or something) oilpaint that doesn't smell so bad. (W&N Artisan)
But maybe they're not so good?

sarah said...

I've heard of those, I've never used them but I should investigate, thanks for the tip!

msteeleart said...

I love oil paint but do not like the smells used with the traditional oils. I tried the W&N Artisan water soluble oils and didn't like them so well but I found another water soluble oil that I really like and they dry pretty fast. They are called holbein duo aqua water soluble oils. I love your paintings by the way. :)

http://www.dickblick.com/zz004/94/