Watercolor, Acrylic or Oil: What is the Difference?

People often are often asking: what’s the “best” or “most popular” type of paint to use? The answer of this question is that, the “best” paint paint to use depends on the skill and patience of the painter and the “look” he desires to achieve.

New York-based painter, Chayim Shvarzblat explains what medium he prefers to use in his paintings and why. Keep on reading.

WATERCOLOR

“I use watercolor to make quick sketches, especially when I'm outdoors, or for a small initial composition of a larger painting, so I can test colors and ideas. Watercolor is an excellent medium, but it also has its limitations. You need to work from lighter colors to darker colors due to color bleeding, and if you make a mistake, it is very difficult to fix,” says Chayim Shvarzblat.

ACRYLIC

“Acrylic is probably the most widely used paint, and it is the easiest to work with. You can create vibrant colors and if you make a mistake it can be solved. As a latex-based paint, it simply washes off with water and dries very quickly, which is why I always use it when performing at any live painting event, as I can build up colors quickly. It can also be used as a base for oil paints. It is very versatile and its use is very simple, I would recommend it to anyone who takes their first steps in painting, ” says the talented painter, Shvarzblat.

OIL

“Oil is the most complicated painting to work with, but it produces surprising effects and results. Technique and experience are essential for working with oils for painting, and you must also learn to be patient. It can take 1-2 days for the paint to dry, and you should make sure to wait long enough between the bases and coats to dry to avoid bleeding the colors. It is the medium I work with for all my major works of art, as it allows me to create incredible textures for a beautiful finish, ” indicates Chayim Shvarzblat.