November 6, 2018

Watercolor vs. Acrylic

A while back I decided to try oil painting again after a very long time away from it... As it turned out I tried, I liked, but it didn't like me.. The smells, and the mess, but mostly the smell didn't agree with me.. I was using a medium, Liquin, to mix and it's toxic.. 
I have a very small place, studio and living space.  Eating and sleeping in the same room with oil paint is not a 'good thing'.
So now I'm using acrylics, as a second choice to my watercolor.. Oils are still the best of the two.
Here is my interpretation of the same scene in watercolor, and second in acrylic. 
Very different in terms of application and confirms my belief that watercolor is delicate as opposed to acrylics. 
That's my story, stickin' to it.  Do you have one. ? Let me know. 

                                 Watercolor 8x10

                                    Acrylic 8x10

11 comments:

  1. They are both beautiful paintings! I had the urge to go back to oils & I'm now using the aqua duo, water based oils. Very easy clean-up

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  2. Thanks Carol, and I thought about the water based oils, just wasn't that sure about it.
    The jury is still out.

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  3. I've seen some gorgeous paintings using the aqua duo. Really stunning. I totally agree about the smell-that's why I use watercolor and acrylics. Agree too about the qualities of each-both have different nice things to offer.

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  4. Both lovely seaside scenes, Barbra Joan! They almost look like different season--one green and summery, the other grayed and wintery!

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  5. Dear BJ - both of the paintings are so beautiful friend. Seems like your observation is correct about the watercolor being more delicate. Acrylics make the colors more vibrant. My mentor who taught me watercolors...often uses both in the same painting with fabulous results. Of course acrylics can be used thicker or watered down depending on the effect. Hope all is well sweet friend. Hugs!

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  6. I can't even be next to an oil painter in our Open Painting Class, after an hour I have a headache even with the odorless medium. I found that if you mix acrylics with glazing medium they will not dry so quickly. I love both of your paintings, brilliant!

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  7. Glad to know the oil paint affects most of you. Its a shame because I love painting with them.

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  8. Both paintings are beautiful. I agree with you all about oils. I haven't done a painting in oil in years. I haven't tried water based oils....maybe sometime. Watercolor is still my favorite!

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  9. I like both paintings, they are beautiful. I love both watercolor and acrylic, but not oil because of the same reason you mentioned, the smells and takes time to dry. With acrylic, I noticed that I can paint much looser than watercolor, but I love watercolor the most.

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  10. It seems that everyone agrees that oil paints are a real problem as far as mess, smells and cleanup..
    Glad I'm not the only wimp. lol

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  11. These are both gorgeous pieces Barbra Joan! (I've never used oils, so I don't have an experience to share.)

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