When I first began painting, oil was my medium of choice. I was immediately drawn to its slower drying time, which allowed me to work deliberately—blending, adjusting, and refining passages over several days before the paint set. Even now, there are many qualities of oil paint that I continue to prefer over acrylic. This may sound amusing to some, but I genuinely enjoy the smell of oil paint as well; it feels inseparable from the tradition and ritual of painting itself.
Oil paint, derived primarily from natural linseed oil, possesses characteristics that truly set it apart. As it dries, oil develops a depth and translucency that can feel almost jewel-like—similar to peering into a diamond or a polished stone. This richness is one of the reasons I’ve always loved both the look and the feel of oil compared to other mediums. Oil painting also carries an undeniable sense of history, having been used continuously from the time of the Old Masters right up to the present day.
Another advantage of oil is its versatility. A wide range of mediums can be added to alter its behavior, including linseed, safflower, poppy seed, and walnut oils, as well as alkyd mediums like Liquin. Each changes the paint’s texture, sheen, and drying time—some speeding the process up, others slowing it down. Oil colors are naturally rich and vibrant, and their saturation can often be refreshed and unified through the application of a removable natural varnish once the painting is complete.
Acrylic paint, on the other hand, is essentially a form of plastic in paint form. While many viewers may have difficulty distinguishing acrylic from oil at first glance, artists can often spot the difference immediately—particularly in the opacity, surface quality, and blending behavior. Acrylic is water-based and dries rapidly; once the water evaporates, the paint film is typically dry to the touch. This quick drying time can be both a blessing and a challenge, depending on the situation.
From a layering standpoint, acrylic allows for rapid buildup. Multiple layers can be applied in quick succession, whereas oil may require days or even weeks between layers. As a result, an acrylic painting can often be completed far more quickly than a comparable work in oil—an obvious advantage when working toward deadlines, exhibitions, or commissions. Acrylic can also be thinned very easily using water or specialized mediums such as airbrush medium, making it particularly well suited for washes and glazing techniques.
Because of how I approach my figurative work, acrylic has become my preferred medium for those pieces. It simply aligns better with the way I construct and develop them. Thinning oil too aggressively with solvents can weaken the paint’s binder, eventually leading to unstable layers that may crack, flake, or deteriorate over time. Acrylic, by contrast, can be thinned to an almost water-like consistency—when done properly with the right balance of water and medium—without compromising the integrity of the paint film. My figurative paintings often rely on fluid washes of color, and acrylic performs beautifully in this role.
For my abstract work, however, oil remains my go-to medium. Oil paint holds texture exceptionally well, preserving brushstrokes and palette knife marks in a way acrylic simply cannot. Acrylic shrinks as it dries due to water evaporation, which can flatten texture and soften marks. Oil, by comparison, retains its physical presence and surface character, qualities that are essential to my abstract paintings.
As my painting process continues to evolve, I’m constantly discovering new ways of working with both mediums. For me, oil and acrylic each have their own purpose. Neither is inherently better than the other—they simply serve different roles. Regardless of the medium, every finished piece ultimately arrives at the same destination: a painting that looks and feels exactly as I intended.
– Blair