Oil vs. Acrylic Painting for Beginners: Art Professors Discuss

[@artprof]

For those of you watching this tutorial, please know that our approach to filming this tutorial was to provide very basic information on the differences between oil and acrylic paint for someone who has little to no experience at all with this materials. (thus, the "for beginners" in the video title.) Since it is impossible for us to know what each individual person watching this video has access to in terms of a place to paint, (whether it's in a home studio, outdoors, at a local arts organization) we err on being conservative and cautious when presenting information on toxic materials and being responsible about safe disposal of materials that cannot be poured down the sink or placed in a regular trash can without causing harm to the environment. There are probably some of you who do have that circumstance or facility , but we felt that it would be irresponsible for us to make the assumption that everyone watching this video does. There are certainly nuances and complexities to the toxicity of certain materials, (not to mention so many manufacturers and pigments, each of which are different!) but our point is for people to understand that oil painting isn't a practice that you can casually maintain the way you could if you are doing a pencil drawing. I'm sure there are some of you watching this video who are much more advanced in your painting practice, have logged many more years, and have tried out many more different materials that we don't mention in this tutorial. Beginners in acrylic and oil painting have a lot of hurtles to deal with when they first start painting. As you progress and find which mediums and techniques are right for you, and develop preferences for your own customized painting technique, you may have different experiences than we talk about above. Please feel free to share your experiences and techniques in the comment section so we can all learn together. See our other acrylic & oil tutorials! Oil Painting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s (part 1) kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6rdqph3j65sqas (part 2) stretching canvas: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIm7gamAhbVppbs , still life acrylic painting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 and mixed media acrylic painting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3mbgZeEr7OBgaM Enjoy! -Prof Lieu

[@sshovelyjoe]

Can you please pin this comment to top.

[@paulamoors]

Thank you for this video. I’m glad I watched it. I was thinking of switching to oil at some point but because I live in a one bedroom apartment with very little ventilation. I will stay with acrylics.

[@stourleykracklite7663]

Great conversation!

[@theaviatroy]

Thank you so much!

[@ChiseledDiamond]

I paint in my room with my pets present in oils, I do not use any solvents, I don't use any toxic paints, I don't use any water or liquid that I can spill down the toilet, I use a jar of linseed oil for thinning the paints and I use a completely safe, nontoxic and pet safe brushcleaner to clean my brushes. Nothing emits fumes, and everything I use is pet safe.

[@ToyotaCorolla-vh3ch]

“You can’t just paint with oil at home.” Me in my room painting with oil paint: 👁👄👁

[@artprof]

This is not ideal, but I do think it's okay if you are in a room with lots of windows, that are all open, and keep them open after you are done to let the room air out. -Prof Lieu

[@AtlanticStar233]

Me in my shed painting with oil while smoking 🙄 - and I won’t mention the rags 😱

[@franzbi8465]

Some oil materials aren't really pleasant to the nose. I have some and I need to paint in an open area.

[@ashantighania225]

I used to enrage my mom when I used to oil paint at home---and I had a basement studio a la Dexter's Lab! I swear she could tell when I even slightly opened a can of turpentine! Thank goodness I was able to afford walnut and linseed oil after a while and eventually water soluble Holbeins!

[@pixiemystiques2104]

Ashanti Ghania I love the Holbein water solubles!! My favorite oils to use!

[@whitecinnamon]

And I'm here, watching a video about oils and acrylics when I only use watercolours.

[@artprof]

I love that, I think about every type of paint as a new language you get to learn! We also have a gouache tutorial that you might like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnqadaGom9ief5I -Prof Lieu

[@KVjourney]

Absolutely the same

[@stellrspellr444]

I felt that 😔 I only use pencil mediums rn, but I'm hoping to get into paints soon

[@nelltalbot3045]

whitecinnamon SAME lol

[@aoyamaprivacc]

S a m e

[@Codswallop58]

I'm a watercolor person, but my friend who is a professional artist (who sells a lot) only paints in acrylic. When I asked why, he kind of covered his mouth and whispered, "I don't want to clean brushes."

[@artprof]

I may or may not be guilty of leaving my brushes oily for a day or two after painting because I was too lazy to clean them😳 Oil painters definitely envy acrylic painters a little - Hema Somaya, Art Prof Staff

[@bizzareadventure8576]

People just throw out their acrylic brushes? Isn’t oil paint the real hard thing to clean

[@konanoobiemaster]

@@bizzareadventure8576 acrylic painters dont throw out their brushes - it's just a joke about cleaning brushes. acrylic paint is cleaned up in 30 seconds with tap water... far easier than cleaning up after oils.

[@strawberryfox8819]

Oh my god, I painted in acrylics before moving on to oils and I swear to everything good above, the cleaning process is devestating. I've definitly ruined a few used brushes because I forgot about them.

[@Kuemmel234]

And it's more than just brushes for me. I was kind of dissapointed trying cheap acrylics. Not that it didn't work for me, but I hated the notion of having something else in mind other than painting. I love how you can basically paint everything over in acrylics, but water color gets me the option of going full neanderthal on my living room (with the TV as a reference, listening to music and all that) and clean everything once I'm done. I have found paint in my face and while my SO more or less yields to that, I don't want to have acrylics dry in my face. Maybe I should paint in finger paints.

[@Kaiffeinnated]

The video: Acrylic vs Oil The comments: Watercolour! Me:...g..gouache?

[@neilagangitlog]

d.. digital?

[@XandraMeltphace]

e..encaustic?

[@ujalabatool8154]

😂😂guache is fun

[@dianachophy]

You guys.... 😅😅😅😅😂😂

[@junipertree2601]

casein!

[@marlenekostka5974]

Life hack that really saved my life: freeze your acrylic paint on your palette it lasts forever and you don’t waste so much

[@artprof]

Cool, thanks for sharing!

[@stephaniemarie2074]

Your brilliant

[@dreamingblue3939]

I'm going to try this- thanks :D

[@leandrotarsia7212]

Not forever but a long time.

[@merryryely]

I cover mine with plastic...

[@CTgr37492hfkwi]

“Don’t paint with oils in your house” Me: painting with oils in a basement with one crappy window... (I dispose of everything responsibly)

[@victoryscreeech]

We have to work with what we have!

[@morgang.5734]

the worst part is that i live in the mountains of colorado so its cold outside a lot so soemtiems its too cold to open then windows. i get a headache after painting with oils for like an hour

[@Denvr2]

I use low VOC paint thinner and understand Morgan’s situation as I paint in Conifer and evergreen every now and then

[@mewmew8909]

Well, Bob Ross died of lymphoma... guess why?

[@bennygee3067]

Did he catch it from a happy little tree?

[@fidgetspinner1050]

I'm a broke high school student and I like to paint acrylic because it's not so expensive... I only have 5 colors at my disposal: cinnabar red, magenta, bright yellow, cyan and ultra marine That's really all you need!

[@artprof]

I'm a fan of a limited palette (although Alex Rowe is not!) I feel like when I have tons of colors it makes things too complicated. You might like our oil painting tutorial which explains this more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s -Prof Lieu

[@Chalup4]

Buying the more expensive acrylics really is worth it too! They weren't kidding when it comes to professional vs. student-grade.

[@neilagangitlog]

Same! Im a broke highschool student, and a limited palette is what i use. I do get the charm of getting more colors tho. I spend lots of time mixing paint, and having more colors would cut that time.

[@flannerycinnamonh2858]

What brand do u use?

[@burntblueberrywaffles]

Personally I feel like I prefer having tons of colours, because otherwise I always end up mixing too much and I hate wasting paint

[@debbieventimiglia2216]

I switched to oils for the richer softer effects, but you can paint with oil and not have it be toxic, I don't use terps, use laundry detergent in a jar to soak them, then Murphy's oil soap to srcub them, and no need for toxic oil mediums. I either use linseed or walnut oil. Very safe..

[@artprof]

Thanks for sharing the info!

[@littleangrynorwegiangranbe2777]

I also use linseed always w oils what's fun to play around with...was inspired by my fave acrylic painter for thinning is using food grade and nontoxic aroma oils... like put a little lemon oil in my yellow...it's fun how ever I do not know how it will degrade over many years..

[@ezrawilson7745]

I use two jars of vegetable oil. One has dish soap.

[@Tiffany_Cruz]

Btw....Does Walnut oil smell? Do they smell as bad as Linseed Oil?

[@es4666]

You can soak a brush in olive oil then wash with dish soap

[@richardgroberto]

Just to be clear, oil paints are not toxic. The pigments used in both oil and acrylic are the same, so any toxicity from pigment is the same between mediums. If you choose to use toxic thinners, that would be an issue but you don't need to do so to paint with oils. You also don't need to pain indirect, so drying time is only an issue for those who do.

[@IzzetArtificer]

This needs to be made much more clear! It is not the oil paints in particular that are toxic. It is the SOLVENTS! Not only is the idea of oil paint in general being toxic turning people off from the medium (it sure did for me), but it kind of waters down the understanding of which parts need to be handled with which precautions. Just the paints itself, oil paints have a much lower toxicity than the resin acrylate based acrylic paints. A lot of the oils in oil paint are edible (walnut oil, for example, is actually used in cooking), while the resin for acrylic paints is absolutely not. The fumes for the solvents (even odourless mineral spirits), is what causes the toxicity and requires ventilation. If you paint without solvents, there is no need for the scaremongering.

[@laurynwelch2081]

Thanks Richard, I feel like we need to make another video on this, because we don't really make it clear what is toxic and why, and it could be read as scaremongering like @gadgeteer suggests. The pigments are indeed the same! There is real toxicity in your cads and cobalts no matter the medium, but one can use hue imitations if they're worried about it. However, what I learned in school (and I could be wrong), is that oil suspensions are more easily absorbed by the micro tears in the skin than acrylic suspensions, just because of size of the particles, drying time, and coagulation. One should really be wearing gloves for both mediums though. I think sanding is the biggest issue, but that's also applicable to both mediums. Always wear a mask when sanding down your work, because the worst thing you can do is inhale cadmium particles! Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and please always let us know if we're saying something that doesn't sound right! We have artists from all different fields and experiences giving tutorials here, so what we've learned may not be the same as somebody else! -Lauryn (Art Prof Teaching Artist)

[@Buzzzy-bee]

Richard Roberto they are toxic

[@PrimalCircus]

Water soluble oils are awesome!

[@IzzetArtificer]

@@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808 you can easily clean your oil painting brushes with water and brush soap after painting. In between, wiping off on a paper towel and using different brushes for lights and darks avoids the use of solvents. Solvents are absolutely NOT necessary for cleaning brushes. Another misconception.

[@kannonmcafee]

Thanks for the tip at 5:19 on mixing Viridian (green) and Alizarin Crimson for black.

[@owcopies123]

Burnt umber and ultramarine also make an excellent black 🙂

[@franziska9260]

it's my favourite neutralising pair 💜

[@arvindshukla8040]

A watercolorist here: whenever I mix viridian and alizarin crimson I never get a nuetral I always get a really dark almost black purple (not nuetral but still gorgeous) ಥ‿ಥ

[@alysiahdivina9870]

“There’s no wrong way to paint.” Love the freedom of expression this statement evokes. We, as artists, are all so hard on ourselves - Art is a form of expression and up for interpretation. This statement is a little reminder to follow your heart with art - let your passion speak, not just your training (especially us self taught artists).

[@artprof]

Yes! The passion and creative drive should shine brighter than everything. Technical skill is just a fun bonus! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@pab8991]

This conversation has taught me more about art than any other video I've seen. Thank you

[@artprof]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ujalabatool8154]

THIS IS GOLD

[@christinefaithveloso6110]

i agree

[@Marinaxp1]

why not like it then ? I am watching it in 2023 and put the first like.

[@Pizzadibrocolis]

me: furiously watchin videos about oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings also me: digital artist

[@sy-zu4uz]

I'm the opposite :'-)

[@es4666]

I started in oil as a child, then went digital (vfx matte painting), then oils. I do whatever now.

[@misunderstandingthing6487]

Better than me who uses crayons

[@danielsalaverri4021]

No freaking way. ALEX! You were my counselor at Cheley Camps freaking AGES AGO! You got me into art there and i just graduated from Ringling College or Art and Design! So much inspiration from you!

[@myoom3009]

i am not an artist but i'm here because of the girl teacher. i love the way she speaks about art.

[@artprof]

Thank you, talking about art is my favorite thing. (next to making it) 😄 -Prof Lieu

[@Flanowa]

Oil or acrylic? The answer is Watercolor!

[@artprof]

Hahaha, and gouache! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnqadaGom9ief5I -Prof Lieu

[@lucastaylor1289]

Watercolor or acrylic? Gouache painters "why not both"

[@SyrianSoaper]

i was like hey i want to try watercolor, ew i don't like how this looks, painted with oil for 3 yrs went down to acrylic for special projects, went down to water color for curiosity, plays with inks. ended up being a mixed media hobby artist.

[@redhat4699]

Actually I'd say gouache .Gouache is the answer .

Guache...

[@sup8437]

I feel like this is such an important video. I find in the small local art worlds that people dont take acrylic seriously or only think of it as used by beginner artists who aren't quite sure what they're doing. While they take oil very seriously, hell at one of the galleries that I sell my more gifty art at I've seen amateur oil painters hang paintings that are still wet and undeveloped and then wonder why they dont sell and why their work gets messed up. I do wish it would change though and I'm looking into starting a class there for professionalism in painting for the people who are new to making art to sell to the public. But what I like about the more professional art world is that more people take acrylic seriously. It was game changing to see an acrylic painting at the art institute of chicago. I've never seen one in the Denver art museum. And I'm attending SAIC this fall and am so excited to be able to work with acrylic in a serious setting and not just have it be seen as a starting point. Acrylic works best for me because its fast, and on a bad pain day, I'm still able to make a 4 ft tall painting within 3 hours if it goes well whereas with oil I cant be around the fumes and the texture of the paint really hurts me to use and it takes forever.

[@artprof]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment! I think the biases against certain media are often times really specific to the venue and the people surrounding that community. Some places I've been to people are super uptight about stuff like that, I've been to other places where no one cared what you made your art with! You might like Lauryn Welch's tutorial on acrylic painting, she mixes stuff like coffee grounds into the paint and gets the coolest textures: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3mbgZeEr7OBgaM -Prof Lieu

[@lucillefemine]

Great discussion and I enjoy the harmony you have with each other. I haven't used oil since I was 17 when I discovered acrylic. But I always wondered if I should go back to it for the beautiful effects you can create. Unfortunately, I don't have a proper space for oils and I wouldn't want to deal with the disposal. So I'll stick with acrylics. My best method for extending the drying time for acrylics is using a wet canvas. It keeps them wet for days.

[@artprof]

Thanks! We had a lot of fun filming this. Yes, sometimes oil just doesn't make sense if you don't have the proper facilities. Good luck with your acrylic work!!

[@Morticia147]

Why don't you use watersoluable oils? There are no toxins involved.

[@artprof]

@@Morticia147 I haven't spent a lot of time painting with watersoluble oils, but I did try them out once when I was at an art store and they were demoing it. I think it's great as an option, but the "feel" of the paint in my brush wasn't the same as what I get with actual oil paints. I think for oil paint, which lets you react to the smallest subtleties in the media, that would make too much of a difference for me to switch. -Prof Lieu

[@karenrichardson6767]

Do your research. Much of what is said in this video is simply not true.

[@joana8615]

@@karenrichardson6767 how so?

[@oliver.haus_]

best oil vs acrylic video on market

[@artprof]

Thank you!😊

[@MirandaMilner]

At least with acrylic painting, I think it’s actually really important to start with really cheap paint. That way you have to work extra hard to make things look good, and when you finally get really nice paints, you’ll suddenly be so much better. You’ll learn some super useful things from cheap paints that you can then apply to the nicer paints.

[@artprof]

That's an interesting idea, it definitely makes sense though! Acrylic is tough as is, so if you can master cheap acrylics you'll coast once you invest in better paints. If you liked this video, you might also enjoy this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3mbgZeEr7OBgaM - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@aaliyahnaranjo8510]

Dude, YES. I used the dollar paints for eight years before buying Golden paints and HOLY CRAP. Mind blown lmao

[@TodaysEdition]

Disagree, some cheap paints just don’t have the opacity, it becomes super frustrating to have to repaint second or third coats on the same section

[@sin3358]

I don't agree. I think it's best to get medium like good quality acrylics. Cheap ones are horrible, they're pretty expensive still and don't work well at all, and you don't get much out of them. But if you pay slightly moreeeee you'll get much better quality and more in quantity too. The quantity is the most important part for me, specifically for white 😂

[@pixie_sprite]

True but I don't got time for that my teacher is not happy with my results 😅

[@DustyMusician]

professor lieu: nooooo you have to take your paint waste to waste disposal noooo!!! professor lieu’s student: haha toilet machine go brrrr

[@ohsweetnikki]

Such stark differences in painting styles and opinions on techniques, each thing one said was basically contradicted by the other artist AND YET, they never got rude or snappy or annoyed with each other.. I loved every bit of this beautiful collaboration 🥰

[@tierraylunastore]

As a chemist, you're really speaking my language when talking about toxicity and correct waste disposal 😂

[@akashamunir2776]

Hi there Another chemist artist over here

[@jazzlehazzle]

I LOVE going to a country I've never been to and just wandering around for 18hrs. C'MON LADY! Controlling less allows nature/life to play a bigger role, & be more of a collaborator. The strokes that the universe makes on its own are often way cooler than anything we could've done intentionally. And artists who walk the tightrope of intention + nature's surprises have the most compelling work to me. Leave room for life to do magic on its own!

[@spencergoth1cgutz205]

I just literally love every art medium and I’m so impressed by what they all can do

[@CypiXmusic]

That was honestly such a good video. When you search for the difference, most people on KZbin just paint 2 eyes and let you decide which one looks best. Thanks for this rundown!

[@barbking2708]

Enjoyable conversation, especially for a self taught acrylic artist.

[@hexxa9327]

The best of both worlds would be oil over acrylic. Acrylic is good for effects, textures, drips and other things that would take 2 years to fully dry if you used oil.. Paint what you can in acrylic then glaze (and/or add impasto) in oil.

[@serenityimagesstudio]

A little tip for any acrylic painters: if you miss washing a brush you can use rubbing alcohol to loosen the pain first and then wash with soap.

[@califmike2003]

To paint for a week let it dry for a week paint for a week let it dry for a week would drive me insane that's why I use acrylic.

[@trondsi]

I almost dropped oils until I realized that you can paint totally fume-free. In the 15-1600s oils were used without turpentine or thinners. They would simply add a bit more oil to make it more fluid. You can rinse your brush in oil too, and then wash with soap. Only problem is that it makes drying even slower.

[@sydtscott]

Worried about hazardous waste and ventilation? Try water-soluble oils. Less stressful and they handle just as well. They do dry faster than traditional oils, however.

[@Idellle]

I love them!

[@satchelyork]

Problem I had with them is they seem to be very hard to clean out of brushes, the brush looks clean then you find they are rock hard when you go back to paint

[@tonderaiarts4590]

Or just linseed oil to thin them and clean your brushes with soap and water

[@llamalady]

It's like the perfect middle ground to me!

[@raffaelwestram4578]

Something that i also find interesting is that when oils and acrylics dry They dry differently color wise Acrylics dry darker while oils retain the color. Its just like how watercolors dry lighter than what you worked with so Mixing colors and preparing for the painting makes a vastly different mindset

[@artprof]

Thanks for sharing!

[@nightwasabi]

I resonate with this lovely lady like CRAZY. I'm a oil painting freak, I could never go back to acrylics. I feel like acrylic paint doesn't let me dance on the canvas, it's more like a battle and race with time, no blending! I just feel oils so much! First moment I switched was around 4 years ago and I knew in that moment I will never go back! Every time I use oils now I feel low key happy and so comfortable. Also all the other stuff about pallet knives and sketching and filling white canvas first, literally EVERYTHING that I do and found useful, that is so nice to hear someone successful and professional has the same opinions! Both of those people are so talented, this was amazing to watch, thank you!! ❤️

[@artprof]

We're so glad you connected with this video!! Clara has the best methods, so you're way ahead of the game if you do things in a similar way, haha :) If you liked this video, you might also enjoy this oil tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@watchvids7802]

Great video, I loved the conversational setting you chose! Soo informative, even with little "real life tips & tricks" like using hand cleaner for the oil brushes. You have a knack for cool comparisons that illuminate concepts (like: "the colour black is like a bomb", or "painting without sketching is like travelling to an unknown country without a plan"). Keep up the great work with this channel!

[@artprof]

That's great to hear! Thanks so much for your support and feedback. We have tons more information on painting here on our main site: artprof.org/courses/acrylic-painting/

[@zommomomo8963]

AAAAAAAH IM GLAD I FOUND THIS CHANNEL THIS IS SUCH A GEM I JUST STARTED USING ACRYLIC AND THEY WERE BAD LIKE REALLY AND HAVIN FOUND THIS CHANNEL MAKES ME HAPPY

[@artprof]

Glad you found us! Alex Rowe has an acrylic painting tutorial that might be helpful to you, kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8, and we have this other acrylic tutorial with Lauryn Welch where she shows really terrific mixed media techniques: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3mbgZeEr7OBgaM -Prof Lieu

[@annesaffer629]

Great discussion! I'm an acrylic painter, and I liked your premise of "its not better or worse, just different". Also, I loved the part about how the painting will be ugly before it starts looking good! I would always get discouraged because of this, but after watching some time lapse painting from start to finish, I was able to trust the process and keep the endpoint in mind.

[@artprof]

Thanks for sharing your experience painting! Our playlist of painting tutorials here, you might like them: kzbin.info/aero/PLvt8_pMl6ywk7zc4BskYW33YEBno7tGph -Marc Stier, Art Prof Staff

[@dinorocks4887]

the last min or so was gold! I would love to see you debunk/argue each other's myths/misconceptions

[@artprof]

I think you would probably like this video of me and Alex arguing over JC Leyendecker: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h364hYSPpc6hh68 or this one about HR Giger: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z32minqLnKaJb68 -Prof Lieu

[@yungjose3369]

Best beginner video to watch on youtube whether oil or acrylic. This I'd recommend watching before buying stuff

[@artprof]

Glad it was helpful! If you'd like to watch another oil tutorial, feel free to check this one out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Degeboyz]

I love how both of your opinions are so contrasts at the same time makes so much sense.

[@terrylust454]

I am new to painting, and have the basic equipment for acrylic painting. I LOVED this discussion so much! I wish I could take a class from each of you. Thank you so much!! And BTW, you both are master painters, and so beautifully accomplished!

[@artprof]

Thank you so much for this sweet comment and for being part of our family! Yay, for starting acrylic painting, we’d love to see what you make so tag us on instagram @art.prof, use the hashtag #artprofshare or share them on our discord server discord.gg/g5XQRpT! - Hema Somaya, Art Prof Staff

[@someonesone2]

I never thought watching and listening to 2 art teachers talk to each other would be so entertaining

[@lottevannoort1211]

There is an inbetween; my favourite water soluble oil paint! It dries slightly faster and the texture is a little different from traditional oil. But theres no fumes, you can use water to clean and dilute the paint!

[@friendlypiranha774]

I'm a complete non-artist, but this was a most fascinating discussion that was so pleasant to watch. The interaction was delightful without any egotism getting in the way. Each was respectful to the other. Thank you.

[@lindalopez5951]

Listening to you about oil vs acrylic is extreme awesome for me. I’m self taught so your critics and advise are so important and helpful to me ,thank you. So after 4 yrs of painting acrylics...I’m just now transitioning into oils. I appreciate the caistioninary advise very much.

[@artprof]

I'm really glad to hear this is useful to you! Good luck with oil painting, you're going to love it! -Prof Lieu

[@wickeddubz]

I absolutely love such conversations. Two educated people talk and share their view. Different approach, different school, different medium. A-wwu-suuumm!

[@michcookies]

I’ve used oil paints for years and recently used acrylics, and oh my gosh it took me a while to get used to working quickly with it because it would dry so quick, I’m used to taking weeks to finish a piece. For cleaning my brushes I wipe off excess paint with newspaper, soak in clean spirit for about 15 minutes then thoroughly wash with warm water and a gentle hand wash. My brushes are still going strong after 10 years. I paint in my bedroom and leave it to dry in another room over night, always with a window open (and layer up sweaters if it’s cold!). Agree with the point of building up layers of oils, I do my base colours, then shadows, then maybe some more shadows, then light areas, then details, then details in the details, then finishing touches. Depending what I’m doing can take 2-6 weeks to finish something then wait another month before it’s touch dry, so it’s certainly taught me patience with it!! But the payoff when you take the time is so worth it.

[@artprof]

That's interesting because I did it the opposite: years of acrylic and later with oil! I was so relieved to use oil because the quick dry time for acrylic drove me nuts. Btw, for acrylic there are now lots of materials like Slow Dry Medium and Matte Medium that can slow down the drying process, Alex Rowe explains it in our acrylic painting tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 -Prof Lieu

[@kathleenshaw932]

Love hearing the differences not only between oil and acrylics but most importantly between two artist styles. As a beginner, I’m always wondering if I’m doing it right but this, I think, will help me not worry so much about that. Thank you so much

[@artprof]

You are so welcome! We're happy you enjoy them :D good luck with your painting, I'm sure you'll be fantastic! We also have a painting track on our website if you're interested, feel free to check it out here: artprof.org/learn/tracks/painting-basics-track/ - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@shanazaw9207]

When she says you shouldn’t just paint with oils at home cause of fumes, and I’m looking up at my set up of oil paints that I’ve using for the past couple weeks

[@junimeme5626]

Lol the fight at the end. Idk why that made me smile so much. It's always refreshing to see people get along.

[@spoddie]

I'm so glad you mentioned fire safety. I don't use oils and I see so many tutorials and I'm thinking, oil, solvents, rags, that is massive fire risk and no one mentions it.

[@artprof]

For sure, so important!! -Prof Lieu

[@livvielov]

you don't understand what a valuable resource this is for me, at school I was so closed minded about art and have only recently discovered painting and art history and how boundless and freeing it can be. I feel like I really really missed out during the time I was in formal education and people would have taught me this stuff for free. you know what, I feel like I have the potential to get pretty good at this and I can't thank you guys enough for these videos. I love your content and work means a lot, peace

[@artprof]

I'm so glad to hear that! One thing I love about being an artist is that it's literally never too late to get going. (compared to gymnasts who have to retire when they are 25 years old!) Enjoy! -Prof Lieu

[@krautgraphics]

Wow, glad I stumbled over this. One of the most informative and entertaining conversations for a beginner. Thank you for making it and being so in-depth

[@artprof]

Thank you, just doing our job! You might find this beginners art fundamentals playlist helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKWQqYGnoc16faM - Hema Somaya, Art Prof Staff

[@BuddhaGuitar1]

Learn so much from these videos. So important that people understand how to handle oils. Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to do these.

[@artprof]

Glad to hear you got a lot from it! -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@Jessica-pq1rc]

This was really awesome! I'm in my first semester of art school and paints have always scared me! I've been especially leery of oil painting. I absolutely loved how informative this was, and all the comparisons and contrasts between the two mediums. The professors also had great personalities that seemed to work really well together for this video. Thank you!

[@artprof]

Great, thank you!! You might like my oil painting tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s and Alex's acrylic painting tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 -Prof Lieu

[@casataish]

This was really a very interesting conversation. I've been reading and watching so many acrylic vs oil paints and I've got to say this is one of the best.

[@michaelcox8820]

Love this video, so informative. I will say that as an acrylic painter myself, acrylics mixed with slow drying medium are great to work with. I also use a water mister which stops the paint drying hard, so good for working on skies and clouds.

[@artprof]

Great tip!

[@yin9116]

i never have this moment in my life where i could relate and learn more about art

[@sarahc3198]

I’m so happy I’ve found this channel! Wishing I had a painting teacher like you two 😭

[@xx2lifersxx873]

I learned so much from this video. The lady is very knowledgable about art as well as the guy but you can tell she is passionate and loves her work.

[@anawieder5003]

I feel like this video is Assuming that there is only one way to paint it with oil paints. A lot of us painters who use oil, paint wet iinto wet, use impasto (textured paint) use scraffito,, scrape off, use painting knives to paint with, paint expressionistically, abstractly, in many more styles and techniques.

[@internetjunky4327]

Wow I really could hear him talk about acrylics for hours. So humble but also you can tell he knows a lot!

[@artprof]

You should watch Alex's acrylic painting tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 -Prof Lieu

[@nightmeds3339]

I started my oil painting with the intention to use oil like it was acrylic. I had to improvise and assume what color theory was and experiment. having professors share their journey between acrylic and oil is like finding out someone is just as annoyed as you about another person.

[@artprof]

Omg I love this🤣 -Prof Lieu

[@ManasviSArt]

I'm so happy that Artprof finally made this video, I've been waiting for professor Lieu to talk about this for so long, I learned a lot about Acrylics from this video as I usually use Oil paints so thank you Artprof!

[@artprof]

You're so welcome! If you liked this video, you might also enjoy this acrylic tutorial as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@renzo6490]

I spoke to a graduate of the Gage Academy Atelier. He showed me his brushes. They looked NEW! He never used solvents to clean them! Wipe off as much wet paint from your brush as you can onto a cloth or piece of paper kitchen towel. ( if you like, you can dip the bristles into some plain cooking oil to loosen the paint more..then re-wipe.) Place a small amount of Dawn dish soap in your hand ( some people use the inside of the cut half of a tennis ball if they don't want direct contact with the paint ) Press the bristles down into the soap ...first one side, then the other. Rinse in warmish but not hot water. Repeat. Last, press bristles again on the surface of a bar of white Ivory Soap until no pigment shows. Rinse well. If you like, you can go through the same steps using Murphy's Oil Soap. Shape the bristles with your fingers and lay the brush on its side until dry. The only time I use solvents is when I make my medium: in a plastic squeeze jar I mix one half solvent to one half linseed oil. I can remove oil paint from anything using just Dawn dish soap. I specify Dawn because it is the best! --------- Almost any oil paint color can be found that is not made with toxic pigments. The very same pigments that are used to make oil paint are used to make acrylic paint. The paint itself doesn’t give off any toxic fumes. It is only solvents that do .

[@mindbodyyou724]

This was so good. Having both aspects (oil and acrylic) put side by side and discussed was fascinating. Thank you both for an engaging, informative session🖼🎨

[@gatekeepersacredshapes]

Golden brand's Open acrylics are freaking awesome. 3 day drying time. perfection.

[@del7920]

This has taught me so much. I’ve been painting acrylics for over five years as a hobby but I never realised that there was so much more to learn, like buying a paint retarder and cleaning brushes with water and SOAP. Wow thank you so much!

[@artprof]

Check out our Intro to Acrylic Painting tutorial! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8

[@starspeakerarts]

"Paint with oils in a well ventilated space" Me: -painted in he rroom, on the floor with closed windows and only an open door- "Dispose properly!" Me: threw Gamsol down the kitchen drain at one point I.... I'll just go slink away in shame now

[@KeidyLotus]

watchings two art professionals talk is so satisfying to watch

[@artprof]

Thank you so much for watching! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Chuso_Skever]

As someone who wants to start painting and didn't know what to choose I think acrylic will fit me way more, i'm inpatient and I'm used to drawing, digital art and all of that where you don't wait a single bit, the opposite you try to use as many shortcuts as possible with the software to be faster xD

[@truecrimecurator9874]

I’m teaching myself to paint via KZbin videos. I’m so glad this came up in my recommendations! I learned heaps! Thank you!

[@artprof]

Glad we can help!

[@jenjuice432]

This makes me want to try my hand at painting

[@PepperTheDeadly]

Clara drilling it into my head how important and helpful thumbnail sketches are is probably the most important thing I took away from pre college 5 years ago

[@artprof]

SAME HERE, haha. Game changer - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Rosy2468]

I started with oils in high school because the teacher knew it was the last year she'd have the budget for it. When I got to acrylics I kept being stingy with the amount I'd take out of the tube and have it dry up in seconds lol. Oils are my love though, they have a richness I appreciate but I admit i judged acrylic unfairly at first form the sheer frustration.

[@artprof]

I think that every artist has their own preferences in terms of art media, and the important thing is that you gave it a shot! There’s more painting videos in this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLvt8_pMl6ywk7zc4BskYW33YEBno7tGph -Marc Stier, Art Prof Staff

[@emilyr9237]

For someone who paints with both mediums, but has only been painting with oils for a year and acrylics for years, this was such an informative video about both mediums and the difference between them.

[@artprof]

Happy to help and I hope you keep working at it! You might like our other painting tutorials: kzbin.info/aero/PLvt8_pMl6ywk7zc4BskYW33YEBno7tGph -Marc Stier, Art Prof Staff

[@AidenDesJames]

Do wish they'd showed the end results side-by-side to compare the looks you get out of each, as it is "oil vs acrylic"

[@artprof]

Good point, if you want to see the results of our paintings, you can watch see them in part 2 of our oil painting tutorial kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6rdqph3j65sqas , and our acrylic tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 -Prof Lieu

[@bryinsmoot1080]

Very informative! Well done you two. I just recently started painting with oil, I’ve only painted with acrylic up until now, I’m 54 years old. I LOVE oils! OMG. What a difference. I have so much to learn about oils.

[@artprof]

Oils are amazing!!!! We have an oil painting tutorial you might like, part 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s and part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6rdqph3j65sqas -Prof Lieu

[@memyself9854]

*2:02** Watercolor be like:* "Am I a joke to you??"

[@diycad]

I am a watercolor artist and I was watching your fish recipe yesterday and thought you have a good spirit without knowing you have an art channel and you are an art professor yourself!! I’m really glad I found this channel

[@artprof]

Thank you so much 😀

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

Some of my brushes are 50 years old - one or two even older than that, because they were given to me by an older artist. I wash them in what you in the USA would call 'dish-soap', and what we in the UK would call washing-up liquid; or just with plain soap and lukewarm water. All you need to do is wipe the loose paint off with a kitchen towel - ie a thick paper towel. Soap and water does the rest. I don't use any solvent, for cleaning or for painting - so, no fumes; and I can paint at home in consequence. Incidentally - I think we all know what you mean about that horrible stage in a painting at which it looks just painful! You have to have enough faith in yourself to work beyond that stage: I conceive of it as the rescue operation stage.

[@artprof]

That’s really cool, thanks for sharing! It's always great to hear each painter's personal methods. -Marc Stier, Art Prof Staff

[@monika.71]

I love this conversation!!!! So glad I stumbled upon Art Prof. ❤

[@artprof]

Welcome to the Art Prof family!!! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@donaldquarles8364]

Great insights. Inspires me to get painting! The professor’s uptalking is a tad irritating, but that’s my age showing.

[@celinacostaandcosta5252]

This is the best teaching video that I have seen Your observations about using oil and acrylic reflect that u r talking about technical, and cleaning materials that you have experience Keep sharing Thanks acrylic

[@artprof]

Glad to hear it! You might like my oil painting tutorial where I go into even more depth on materials, etc. : kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s -Prof Lieu

[@audreynaiva8735]

I take awful care of my brushes and yet somehow I'm still able to use them after four years oops. Time to start actually washing them for art school when I won't have the money for new brushes.

[@artprof]

You're lucky! I was so bad about washing my brushes for the longest time!

[@r.wdubero3166]

I just put them in a jar of linseed oil when I am not using them

[@seignee]

@@r.wdubero3166 you wHAT

[@MyCardArt]

You are both so good. Your students should thank their lucky stars having you teach them. I truly enjoy watching your segments and learning from you both. 🦋👍🏻 (oh and kudos to the editing too. Excellent!!!)

[@raycicin1794]

Oil paints straight from the tube do not produce toxic vapours. They are merely pigment in plant based oil. If you use solvents as thinners such as turpentine or varsol (mineral spirits) then you will get toxic fumes and will need ventilation. Clean your brushes with oil; mineral or vegetable based and you don't need spirits to clean them. Keep them wet with oil and you don't have to continually wash them 🤓✌🏼

[@prisharai7225]

Ray Cicin do u just keep the brushed in a cup with oil?

[@GissGR78]

I love your talk!! I have never used oils, just acrylics, but I'm always thinking in trying it. Thank you both!!

[@artprof]

Thank you! Here's a tutorial on how to begin painting with oil if you are open to learning. We'd love to see what you create! :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@bluewescott4631]

When you accidentally watch a whole video because it’s actually interesting and helpful.

[@artprof]

Haha, whoops? We're so glad you liked it :) Feel free to check out this similar video about oil painting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHaaX1ofJyWp6s You might enjoy it! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@ssarah445]

I want to start painting and I was indecisive about which paint to use this video was a great help. Thank you.

[@artprof]

We're glad it was helpful! Good luck painting :) If you liked this video, you might also enjoy this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@lonnie_illustrator]

“Don’t but black paint” Me: *bought black two days ago*

[@artprof]

Haha, as some users have suggested, you can use your black paint to mix really beautiful greens from yellow! -Lauryn (Art Prof Teaching Artist)

[@mevebelanger]

Oh my gosh, this is such an interesting discussion, with GREAT examples of the difference. And you cover all the important subject matters. Thank you soooo much!

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@digitaldannie7635]

The ironic thing is that the most affordable paint is the hardest medium to master... *water color*

[@RugajRozoj]

When I make a mistake with oils, I scrape them off. Problem solved. When I make a mistake with acrylics, I paint over it. Problem solved. When I make a mistake with watercolors... WHATEVER I DO IS JUST MAKING THINGS EVEN WORSE AND WORSE AND THE PAPER IS DISSOLVED.

[@edenisok894]

Ye, but it’s cheap so have lots of opportunity to experiment! I also feel like it’s easier to blend, but shading and layering is hard lol. I watercolor and it’s very difficult. With oil paints and acrylic it feels so much more expensive and I’m like “THIS NEED TO BE PERFECT”and I feel like I do better when I just relax and doodle

[@satanswifey_]

Wax and oil *crayons*

[@kimward8263]

I have two degrees in sculpture But I’ve moved to just painting about 10 years ago. I think I’ve learned everything I know about painting from KZbin. I love acrylic but, this video showed me things I can take from oil as well. I found it very informative thank you for making, and keep making videos

[@artprof]

Thanks for watching, I'm so glad you were still able to find something new and educational from our video! We have a whole playlist of oil tutorials if you are ever interested in watching. :) -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@sgreen4865]

One benefit I found in using oils is oils was easier to clean from my clothes. Oil is hard to remove from skin. Acrylic is easy to remove from skin but hard from clothes. You should use an apron though no matter what paint you use.

[@kelschan88]

I could listen to you guys talking about acrylic/oil painting for hours. ❤

[@artprof]

You can listen to us prepare surfaces for painting and stretching canvases! kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIm7gamAhbVppbs -Prof Lieu

[@CristinaSignoretti]

seeing professor lieu’s personality makes me wanna go to risd even more

[@pixiemystiques2104]

This was extremely helpful and fascinating! I am a self taught painter and I love to paint in both oils and acrylic paint. It was so awesome to see the comparison side by side. Thank you for this lovely video!

[@artprof]

We're so glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching. If you liked this video, you might also like this intro to acrylic tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe4fayKm5KFsK8 feel free to check it out :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Scary_asmr101]

Hmm, I wipe off acrylic with a wet rag. Acrylic doesn’t dry like crazy glue

[@lucastaylor1289]

What are you paints when I had my acrylics (I use watercolor now) they where like glue

[@prim1791]

I washed my acrylic brushes and they still were ruined :(. But now I wash the new ones with soap right after using them and it's been working so far

[@tia-8802]

This was a really good comparison. I especially enjoyed the argument at the end.