What are the Differences Between Oil and Acrylic Painting Techniques?

Oil and acrylic are two common mediums used in art. Oil paints are composed of pigments bound together with a drying oil, such as linseed oil. As a result, oil paints have a slow drying time. They can take days or weeks to dry completely. Those who use oil paints are fond of its smooth, buttery consistency, and rich color spectrum. In contrast, acrylic paints are created from pigments that are suspended in a water-based medium. Because of this composition, they dry much faster than oil paints (minutes as opposed to days), and have more viscous consistency. Unlike oil paints which have a luminous quality, acrylics typically have a matte finish and a slightly more limited color range.