Block Painting

Making a Fine Art Painting – Which is Best Acrylic Paint Or Oil Paint?

Trying to decide which type of paint to use to paint your next art masterpiece? Should you go with the tried and true oil paints, or should you try the newer medium of acrylic paint? Each of these types of paints has their pros and cons which you should investigate so that you can choose the medium that suits your painting style. You are the artist, you make the call.

Oil paint, the traditional medium, is basically powder pigments mixed with clear linseed oil. This paint is slow drying and for that reason is perfectly suited for blending colors together smoothly with plenty of time to contemplate the painting’s progress and still have time to edit and adjust the image before the paint dries. Another plus of oil paint is the luminous quality of the paint which is achieved from the linseed oil medium which allows light to pass through the paint and bounce thereby illuminating the paint on the surface. Additionally, oil paint has been proven to be the most permanent medium for fine art painting. Most paintings on canvas and wood were made with oil paint from early Renaissance times until the 1960′s when acrylic paints were introduced.

Acrylic paint is only about fifty years old, and is the new kid on the block. This paint is made from powdered pigments and a liquid acrylic plastic medium. Unlike oil paint, acrylic dries fairly quickly and you will need to plan ahead and move quickly if you want to do much modeling or blending of colors with this type of artists paint. However, the quick drying quality of acrylic paint can be an advantage if you paint in layers or paint in such a way that does not require the blending or colors. You don’t have to wait for several days for paint to dry before you paint something on top of a previous layer with acrylic. If you want to mix several mediums together, like acrylic drawing paper and found objects, then acrylics are the perfect type of paint for the job. There are also a wide variety of specialty paints and mediums that can be used with acrylics such as modeling paste for texture, gloss and matte mediums for thinning and mixing, iridescent and fluorescent paint, and many other special effect mediums and additives that could broaden the range of your creative artistic expression.

Some artists begin their paintings with acrylic paint and when that dries, they finish the artwork with oil paint. Hopefully, this will give you enough basic information to make an informed choice about what type of painting medium is most suited to your type of artistic expression.

By: George McKim

About the Author:

The author, George McKim, is an award winning artist who has exhibited his artwork in museums and galleries. George has created a new and rapidly growing Artist Social Network and Online Gallery at http://www.myartfriends.com

Block Painting

Oil Painting Tips – Feeling Uninspired? Here Are Some Ways to Fight Painters Block

The next time you find yourself staring at a blank canvas, don’t get discouraged. Sometimes our minds need a little break from painting. I would like to share how I find inspiration for those unproductive moments.

Take a walk or drive to the country – Step outside and take a long walk. Get your blood circulating and energize your mind. Exercise and fresh air can do wonders when you are feeling down. I also like to hop in the car and take a drive out to the countryside. I always bring a sketchpad or notebook along with me. I find so much beauty and inspiration from nature.

Visit a museum or gallery – Just looking at other artwork is enough to get your creative juices flowing. I will map out a few local galleries and head out with a friend to see what beautiful art I can discover. If they allow you take photographs, take a few shots of any works that catch your eye and bring them back to your studio for inspiration.

Go to a bookstore – Visit your local bookstore, grab a cup of coffee, and browse through the art section. See what new information sparks your interest. I pick up anything from magazines to art history books.

Listen to some music – Grab a few of your favorite CD’s, a blank canvas, some of your favorite colors, and do some spontaneous painting. Don’t think but instead let the rhythm of the music lead your brush. You will be pleasantly surprised at what comes out.

Don’t be afraid to try different things – Oil paint is an incredibly versatile medium. Experiment with different oil painting techniques. Oil paint can be thinned to a watery consistency or brushed on with thick luscious strokes. Don’t limit yourself to only one style. Don’t worry about being wrong or following any rules. This is the perfect time to make mistakes as you are only experimenting and having fun.

When all else fails, say a prayer! Ask God, the one who blessed you with your creative gift, to lead your brush. He is the ultimate source of creativity. I bet he has some good ideas up his sleeve.

By: Ralph Serpe

About the Author:

Ralph Serpe is Webmaster and Founder of two popular online artist communities: Visit CreativeSpotlite.com today for more free art lessons. Visit the Art Instruction Blog today for more free art instruction.

Block Painting