Keep Creating-What are the differences between Oils and Acrylics?

I paint with oil, acrylics, oil pastel and colored pencil. Each requires slightly different thinking when working. For the oil paint to go on the canvas easily a combination of linseed oil and turpentine mixture or some type of solvent added to it in small amounts(artists have formulas for this and have to be careful because paint will crack) and the oil paint takes much longer to dry, days, weeks or longer depending on the amount of paint used and the temperature and climate of location. Acrylic does not require this solvent mixture and dries fast within minutes again depending on the amount of paint applied to the canvas. With acrylic paint you can dip the brush in water and then begin painting, you can add a retardant to slow the drying process down. Paint companies have all sorts of additives for acrylic paint resulting in all sorts of mixed media combinations. With water mixable oil, a different product entirely, you need to be careful not to add too much water because the paint will crack. Each paint has a slightly different look in terms of shine on the surface, color of hue and so on. Each product requires certain products to use with it. Keep creating!

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