(All you need to know about art paint types and what to choose for your next project: Acrylics, Oils, Watercolors, …?)
Which art paint to use? What’s the difference between acrylics, oils, and watercolors? And what to use for every art project and situation. You’re reading this blog post because you probably started painting recently. Or maybe you have been painting for a while using a certain medium and finally decided to explore a new art paint. Whatever your reason might be, I got you covered.
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Let’s start with a little list of the most popular types of art paint:
- Oil Paint
- Acrylics
- Watercolors
- Gouache
- Encaustic
Now let’s talk about each art paint type in terms of consistency, finish, drying time, and durability:
1- Oil paint
Oil paint as the name suggests is an oil-based paint, known for its richness, depth, and durability. Oil paint can be used mainly on canvas, wood, and plexiglass. Note that oil paint can’t be used on regular paper nor on watercolor paper (water-absorbing paper).
Consistency: Oil-based paint has a very smooth, rich texture which makes it very easy to blend.
Finish: Oil paint has a glossy finish.
Drying time: Oil paint dries slowly which gives room for changes and gradual addition of details (takes days or even weeks to dry fully).
Durability: Very durable on its own, and you can add a varnish (top coat) to seal the paint on and make it last for a lifetime.
Shop my favorite oil paint here.
How to use oil paint?
- Oil paint can be diluted with flaxseed oil.
- If you want to help your oil paint dry quickly, mix a bit of seccutive medium with your paint.
- The brushes will have to be cleaned using white sprite and NOT water.
There are water-mixable oil paints as well which are very elastic and easily diluted by adding more water.
2- Acrylics
Acrylics are the most versatile of all art paints and can be applied to almost any surface that comes to mind: paper, canvas, wood, plastic, fabric, plexiglass, and so on. Acrylics are water-based and yet they are water-resistant.
Consistency: Acrylics have a very smooth, light texture, rich in pigment, and have great color strength.
Finish: Acrylics have a matte to a semi-matte finish.
Drying time: Acrylics dry very quickly (20 min to 40 min).
Durability: Very durable on its own, and you can add varnish (a topcoat) to seal the paint on and make it last even longer or to give it a glossier finish.
Shop this acrylic paint here.
How to use acrylics?
- You can use acrylics straight from the tube or diluted with water. Gradually add water to reach your desired consistency.
- Note that acrylics dry darker than they look when you first apply them.
3- Watercolors
Watercolors are made of water + pigment + a binder (mostly gum-arabic). The binder is the ingredient that holds the paint together and ensures its smoothness. Watercolors go only on watercolor paper.
Consistency: Watercolors are smooth and translucent.
Finish: Watercolors have a matte and sometimes powdery finish.
Drying time: Watercolors dry quickly (just like how water dries, from 1 to 5 minutes according to the environment).
Durability: Not durable since most watercolors are washable and the color tends to faint with time.
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How to use watercolors?
- Start by mixing the paint with a fair amount of water.
- Apply the paint to your surface, the color pigment suspended in water will stain the surface once the water is all dry.
4- Gouache paint
Right between acrylics and watercolors, Gouache is a water-soluble paint that is a bit more on the opaque side. You can use Gouache on both canvas and paper.
Consistency: Gouache has a chalky consistency.
Finish: Absorbs light instead of reflecting it, which makes it more on the matte or semi-matte side.
Drying time: A little gouache paint goes a long way. It takes a long time to dry, you can still work on it for hours or even days after application.
Durability: Gouache has a strong colored pigment which makes it fairly durable.
Shop this Gouache paint here.
5- Encaustic
Encaustic is the only wax-based paint on this list. Very rich in pigment and very versatile. Encaustic can be used only on firm absorbent surfaces.
Consistency: Hot liquid wax consistency.
Finish: Matte finish.
Drying time: Doesn’t dry on its own, requires a heat source.
Durability: Highly durable.
Get Encaustic paint here.
How to use Encaustic?
-Encaustic is used on its own directly on the surface, using a heat source and metal tools for application.
-Encaustic has no solvents added and is unaffected by moisture (including water).
Which paint do I choose for my next project?
Every paint type is ideal in a certain situation. Right or wrong depends on what you’re willing to create. You pick based on the surface, desired finish, conditions, durability, and more.
In case you’re a beginner painter looking for guidance, I recommend you start with Gouache or Acrylics. Then you can move to Oil Paint and other types. Once you get the hang of it all, your art will be more about your techniques and touch! Mediums will just help you experiment and leave the comfort zone every now and then.
Conclusion:
- Taking into consideration the consistency, finish, drying time, and durability of every art paint type before using it is necessary.
- You don’t want to risk wasting your time painting with watercolors on fabrics for example, because it will wash off. Maybe reach for acrylics since they are fast drying and water-resistant.
- Beyond the characteristics of every paint, your choice should always depend on your desired outcome.
NB: These types of art paint all come in different containers, including tubes, ink bottles, or palettes depending on the brand and body of paint (i.e., viscosity).
I highly recommend this full set of art supplies for every beginner. Check it out.
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