Acrylics versus oils

[Roc]

hey guys, what is your favorite painting medium and why does it work for you?

we all have different preferences when it comes to mediums, I personally prefer oils because it allows me to experiment with different formulas and techniques, but most important it allows more time for blending.

Cheers

Roc

 

[Brad S]

Hey Roc!

This question should produce some interesting answers also.

I prefer acrylics. I started in oils but did not have any luck, My first halfway decent figure was in acrylics so I stuck with it. I feel like I could go back to oils, now that I know a lot of what I was doing wrong, but I have to much invested in my acrylics. I like using water, no smells, and best of all, I can lick the brush and it doesn't taste bad.

I use blending mediums and drying retardents and even though it doesn't make it blend like oils, they do help me in laying down the paint in a thicker but more transparent brush stroke. I like the very subtle blending transitions you can get with oil. With a little more work you can do it in acrylics too. It usually takes me just as long to paint in acrylics as it did oils. I'm slow.

Brad Spelts

 

[Cicero]

Hi all,

I am an "oily", right from the beginning when I started painting figures. In "those days" there were no acrylics. Of course as with any art form you only get better by practising. Apart from that I tried to learn as much as possible by reading books and magazines about the subject (stealing with the eyes).

I myself have no intention at all to turn to acrylics. I even find it very strange that figurinist who paint with oils for years, with good result, turn suddenly to acrylics. My adagium is that there is always room for improvement with every medium that you use. Who can claim that he knows everything and has reached perfection. So stick to the medium you are used to and do not lose some precious time by changing to another. To me I think acrylic paints are just a hype pressed through by some people and magazines.

As it comes to the final results, I admit that a lot of figurinist produce some nice figures with acrylics but to me they miss always that warm glow, depth and the smooth and gentle transition between shadows and lights. So when I can choose between a figure painted in oils or one painted in acrylics, I will always pick out the one painted in oils. But that is just personal taste. So hip hip hurey for oils!!!
BTW I happen to like the smell of oils very much, it produces a certain cosyness in my workplace.

Happy painting

Johan

 

[nagashino]

Hi Roc

Interesting thread, and one that might, just might generate similar passions to one running elsewhere on this forum

Me, I'm an oil painter. I came into this hobby in the early '60s when the only water based paints were gouache and poster colour. I opted for enamels, because at that time they were cheap and available in the local model shops (hey, where have THEY all gone?). I got some good results with them, and sometimes when I look at an "oldie" from my cabinet, I wonder how I managed it!

I got into oils in the late 60s and have been with them in my several forays back into figures, ever since. I do use acrylics here and there, but mainly for underpainting (they dry matt and help the matting of the final oil coats). I also use the slow-cooker method for enhancing drying/matting.

Like Johan, I appreciate the subtlety of blending with oils. I admire acrylic painters (and this forum is full of excellent ones) who can achieve a similar effect with what, to me at least, is a very unforgiving medium. And I guess, after all these years I'm too long in the tooth to change.

Oh, and Johan - I like the lovely linseed oil smell too :lol:

Regards all

Phil

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Guys

very interesting thread.....

I came into the figure side of this hobby only 5-6 years ago, my decision to use acrylics instead of oils, was a family one realy. Having been on the AFV side of things many years ago, I used the more traditional humbrol paints. So when it came to me taking up the hobby again after leaving it for many years I decided to move to figures, but unfortunately I could only set up a small work bench within the living (family) room of my house so I had to pick a more sociable medium to work with.

I love the look of oils on some figures and equaly love the look of acrylics on others, for instance, I prefer the look of acrylics on uniforms and the look oils on faces. For me it was just getting used to painting with acrylics. I love the fact I can be paintig a figure before lunch and after lunch I can go back to it and all is dry.

But a lot of the problem, I feel is down to cost, When most of you guys started painting in oils, it was a while back with some of you, and they were not as expensive as they are now per tube, I have found most art shops dont carry the small tubes of oil paints anymore just the large ones.

I think its just down to personal preference as both mediums have their Pro’s and Con’s and its just what you get used to painting with, either because of availability or social circumstances. At the end of the day its not the medium, its the experience of the person using that medium...

Dave

 

[brian]

HI
I've always painted in oils and find it suits me the best as it buys me time to blend and change things on the figure as i go along as in the initial stages of painting a figure, i use the figure as my pallette if you get my drift.I start with wet on wet but finish with wet on dry, the stage of painting where i hopefully bring the figure to life
I think that it's up to the individual what medium he uses as i've seen superb results fom all.I've tried Acrylics and lasted about a day before i gave in as it's all a bit too fast for me
I'd also miss that pungent smell of white spirit and that taste as you suck your brush and the wife constantly going on about chucking your used thinners down the sink.On reading this back to myself i realise it's just not nicotine i'm addicted to
i wonder if i should check in to the Priory
Brian

 

[Cicero]

Hi Brian,

My hairs went straight up reading that you pour your used thinners through the drain. By doing that you risk to polute the finest whiskys your beautiful country produces, as to my knowledge the distillers use fresh water from the streams :lol: . Please do not ruin a part of my hobby: savouring a malt whisky while painting in oils! Nippin' and sniffin', seems like risky business!

BTW the whisky has as an effect that all of my figures look fantastic, for a while at least!!! :lol:

Johan

 

[Kisifer]

Hello Guys.

I am also an oil painting fan. I started painting figures 8 years ago (I took a brake for 5 years though) and back then acrylics had barely started appearing on the scene. I like oils for their blending ability and also the slow drying time they have. If you want faster drying you can always use a bulp cabinet or something. You can't something similar with acrylics though.
I paint completely with oils. from top to bottom and i use enamels for undercoating. I have very few acrylic colors that i haven't used them yet.
I also beleive that you can get quite impressive results with oils the same you can do with acrylics, so that's fine for me.

As long as the smell... i often use disposable nose/mouth masks.

Happy painting all !!!

 

[frank h]

Hi

I am a former oil painter.....who had some moderate results
went over to acrylics after takling to some of the
Greek painters from the Athens club at Euromilitaire

This plus that teriffic article in Historical Miniatures by
Mario Fuentes convinced me to abandon my oil paints
in favour of Acrylics

It seems to work for me as with most people its the time
thing ....and i like to be able to complete an area in one
painting session if possble......including corrections

My wife is happier in the absence of odour ...although
like many others ...i did not mind it

Have started using flow improver and blending mediums as a dilutant
using water just to wash the out the brush......also pre-wetting
larger areas for blending purposes
Having painted in oils I know what i want to achieve

for me this medium seems to give me what i want
just as oils gives other painters the results they seek

To any painter starting out I would say try them all find what works for you

Frank

 

[megroot]

Hello Rocco,

Yes, i also am an oil addict. I started with oils, but was not so satisfied when i had seen the results with acrylic.
So very quickly i went to the acrylic's. But the blending was very difficult.
Nevertheless i'l turned back to oils, and on my club they told me that my painting was better with oil than with acrylic.
So i shall stay to the oils now for maybe a long time. I like the blending and the smooth transistion that is possible between the different graduations of a colour.

Marc

 

[Kandor8]

Oils. I learned at the feet of Larry Munne' and only used arcylics for undercoating.
After being out of the hobby for so long I was surprised to now see so many fantastic acrylic work being created! So, I'm thinking on trying my hand in that medium (probably NOT faces though) on one of my 54mm projects. How are the Andrea "how to" books?

Best!
Ric

 

[KeithP]

Well, darn it, I guess I am schizophrenic...

I bounce back between oils and acrylics (and mastered neither )
When I am painting a figure in oils, I swear I will go back to acrylics. And, when I am painting a figure in acrylics, I swear that I will go back to oils :lol:

I find that the blending of oils is more intuitive for me. I also very much enjoy developing mixes with a few basic oil paints. Very satisfying.

OTH, with acrylics I can get more done faster (but not better...). However, the whole dilution thing eludes me for now.

Also, I don't get bogged down on mediums. I take what works for me and often will use acrylics, inks, and oils all on the same figure...

Keith

 

[KeithP]

Ric-

IMO, skip the Andrea books and get vol 1 Painting in overhead lighting. Also, the Mario Fuentes article is all you really need to start out in acrylics. If you don't have that link, let me know and I'll send it...


Ketih

 

[Kandor8]

Keith,

That'd be great. Please send the link.

Ric

 

[Wlas]

I tend to be Old School as well. Oils over acrylics. We have all seen beautiful work in acrylics with the new 'glazing' techniques but the overall effect is still 'cold' compared to the inherent warmth of oils.

 

[KeithP]

Here you go...

Go to the English language "Model Color" section.

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/

Keith

 

[Blind Pew]

Hello again guys,

I use the tried & tested oils over Humbrols technique. To what effect I don't know - the jury's still out!

I know people don't like the long drying time, but I find it works for me. What I do is I stick the tube of paint onto a peice of paper, usualy some old envelope and allow any excess oil to soak into the paper, some colours are better than others for this. I find this "matts down" the paint. Also I use Windsor & Newton Matt medium as well on occasions to heighten this effect. When using the notorious blue, I often (if I remember!) mix in a little orange into it prior to painting to kill off any more gloss. (phew)
I NEVER do the above on any human skin or horses coats, to retain the natural gloss in these things, but I suppose whatever works for each individual is what matters. I've seen great results using all sorts of things.

 

[jjgurk]

Oils for me. It's taken me so long to even get close to half confident in my abilities to brush, blend, and mix them that the mere thought of turning to another medium gives me the shudders. But, to everyone of you that uses acrylics I say hats off because some of the figures out there painted in acrylics simply blow away any efforts I achieve with oil paints.

John