Acrylic vs. Oil Painting: What's the Difference?
Acrylic or oil? Here is how to choose the right technique for your painting.
When you order a painting from your photo, you can choose between acrylic and oil painting. Both techniques create a real, hand-painted piece on canvas – they differ mainly in working method, the character of the color, and above all, drying time.
Acrylic Painting
Acrylic paint dries significantly faster, so the artist can apply each layer in shorter intervals. The result is a hand-painted piece with vibrant color, visible brushwork, and excellent color stability. Acrylic is a versatile technique well suited to most portraits, pets, landscapes, and more modern subjects.
Oil Painting
Oil paint dries more slowly, giving the artist more time to work with gradients, blended tones, and fine detail. The result can feel softer and more traditional, with the classic character of oil painting. That slower drying time does mean a longer period before the piece can be safely finished and shipped.
Difference in Appearance
The difference between acrylic and oil is not always dramatic at first glance – it depends much more on the artist’s style, the subject, and how the paint is applied. Oil is traditionally used for soft gradients and deeper tonal work, while acrylic is highly versatile and can be painted smoothly or with bold texture.
Which Technique Do We Recommend?
If you do not have a strong preference, we recommend acrylic. It delivers excellent results, a shorter turnaround, and works well for the vast majority of photos. We recommend oil mainly for customers who want the traditional look of oil painting and do not mind a longer turnaround.
| Feature | Acrylic | Oil |
|---|---|---|
| Painting character | Versatile, clean and vibrant | Traditional, soft and painterly |
| Working with color gradients | Fast, layered work | More time for soft blending |
| Drying time | Significantly faster | Significantly slower |
| Estimated delivery | 3-5 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Price | Base price | + $50 flat |
| Recommended for | Most orders | Lovers of classic oil painting |
Why Does Oil Painting Take More Time?
The main difference is how quickly the paint dries. Acrylic paint dries fairly quickly, so the artist can move on to the next layer without a long wait. Oil paint stays workable for much longer, which is great for soft blending, but it extends the overall painting process.
Before packing and shipping, the surface of the painting needs to be stable enough that it will not be damaged by contact with packaging or during transit. That is why we allow for a longer estimated delivery time with oil paintings.
Not sure which technique to choose?
Unless you have a particular reason to choose oil, we recommend acrylic. You will still get a full, genuine hand-painted piece, with a shorter turnaround. See exact pricing by size before you decide.