The differences between oil painting, acrylic, gouache and watercolor!
Many people who learn to paint often cannot tell the difference between oil, acrylic, gouache, and watercolor because apart from some differences in the properties of the pigments, there are not many other major differences.
One article to thoroughly distinguish the differences between oil painting, acrylic, gouache and watercolor!
1. Oil paint
Oil paints must be mixed with oil. Because oil is the medium, it is not easy to dry. It usually takes a month for the surface to be basically dry.
It will not darken after drying and will maintain the thickness and gloss of the paint layer. It is generally required to apply a base color on the canvas.
Oil paintings are mainly divided into three-dimensional and knife-painted forms, with a strong sense of shaping and a very harmonious fusion of colors. They can also be preserved for a very long time.
For example, Monet's Water Lilies and Van Gogh's Starry Night
2. Gouache paint
Its characteristics are very similar to watercolor, but its ductility is not as good as watercolor, and it is an opaque watercolor. The price is relatively low and suitable for beginners to paint colors.
The paints mixed with water are easy to dry on the drawing paper. The thicker the paint is, the easier it is for the paint to crack on the drawing paper.
The technique is similar to oil painting and acrylic painting. The color is very saturated and bright when wet, but it becomes slightly grayer and lighter when dry.
Keep the pigment in a sufficient amount of water.
3. Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint can be mixed with water or oil, but most commonly with water. Acrylic paint is easier to clean.
It dries easily, and the color is difficult to blend with wet paint after it dries. The color is relatively rich and translucent.
Even after mixing many times, it will not look dirty or gray. The color remains very smooth and bright, and will not become gray or light like gouache.
Wall paintings typically use acrylic paint, which rarely bleaches or fades due to sunlight exposure, whether indoors or outdoors. Outdoor wall paintings require a coat of protective paint, which creates a waterproof film.
Acrylic paint is often used in classroom painting and can be painted on a variety of materials.
4. Watercolor paint
Watercolor uses water as a medium to mix pigments. Its high transparency allows overlapping colors to show through. While not as vibrant as colored ink, it provides a deeper, more resistant color even with long-term storage.
Watercolor paints are available in both solid and tube forms. Solids are convenient to carry, while tubes are suitable for larger paintings.
The White House at Chelsea - Thomas Girtin (1775-1802)
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