Yes, many painting techniques traditionally used with oil paints can be successfully adapted and applied when working with acrylic paints. While the two mediums have different properties, artists regularly employ methods to achieve results similar to those seen in oil painting.
Adapting Techniques for Acrylics
Acrylic paints dry much faster than oils and are water-based, whereas oils use solvents. However, these differences can be managed using specific acrylic mediums and techniques:
- Glazing: Achieve transparent color layers by mixing acrylic paint with an acrylic glazing medium. This allows light to pass through layers, creating depth and luminosity similar to oil glazes.
- Impasto: Create thick, textured paint strokes using heavy body acrylic paints or incorporating acrylic gels and pastes. These mediums allow paint to retain brushstrokes and build significant texture.
- Blending: Extend the working time for smoother color transitions by using acrylic retarders or slow-drying ("open") acrylic paints. This mimics the longer blending window available with oil paints.
- Scumbling: Apply a thin, broken layer of opaque or semi-opaque color over a dry underlayer using a stiff brush. This technique creates a textured, feathered effect similar to oil scumbling.
Combining Acrylics and Oils
Beyond simply adapting oil techniques within acrylics, artists also frequently use both mediums together in the same artwork. Acrylics are often utilized for underpaintings or initial layers due to their fast drying time and stable, non-absorbent finish once dry.
As demonstrated in various painting approaches, acrylic paint can serve as an excellent foundation before applying oil layers. The reference highlights this use case: "So that I have a flat surface for the oil layer. I will add. Later our acrylic is now thoroughly dry." This shows that a thoroughly dried acrylic layer provides a suitable, flat, and stable base upon which oil paints can be applied, allowing artists to combine the benefits of both mediums within a single piece.
Key Considerations
The primary difference when adapting techniques is managing acrylic's faster drying time. While oils can be blended wet-on-wet for days, acrylics require quicker work, the use of retarders, or layering once dry. Acrylics also clean up with water, eliminating the need for traditional oil solvents in the acrylic stages. Despite these differences, the principles behind many techniques like glazing, impasto, and layering transfer effectively between the two mediums.
