Painters Online Logo

Login/register

Studio

Painting in oils over acrylics - new information

Welcome to the forum.

Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.

Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.

Hang on Studio Wall
Author
Message
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 24815
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 8649
Posted
But not so new as to cause alarm.  I don't (obviously!) know  how many of you subscribe to Just Paint, the blog of the Golden acrylics company, who also make Williamsburg oils.  They conduct research into materials of a quite profound kind, and have a latest advisory on painting oils over acrylics - you need to read it for yourselves if you've been at all worried by this, but in summary: they confirm that painting in oil over acrylic priming, wrongly but frequently called "gesso", is a sound practice - which is a relief, because that's what I use.  Their testing indicates though that there can be problems - cracking, flaking - if painting with glossy acrylics, on a flexible surface such as canvas, and then painting with oils on top.   The composition of acrylic priming and artists' acrylic paints is not the same.     If asked,  which I sometimes have been, I advise against painting oils over acrylics, but I know many people do, to enhance drying time, or to set up a full acrylic painting with oils glazed over it.  If that concerns you, well the latest tests and investigations are available from Golden/Williamsburg.  I don't think there's much to worry about, but it's as well to have the latest research. Obviously, acrylic over oil is asking for trouble, but presumably we all know that. 
heather self2

Heather Love

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 443
Posted
Thanks Robert, very useful and interesting

Norrette Moore

  • Esteemed User
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 939
Posted
Yes, thanks Robert. I have been tempted lately to get a head start by blocking in with acrylics, as some artists recommend.  I'll be patient and avoid.
My Profile pic16

Lewis Cooper

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 6309
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 2573
Posted
Interesting, although I seldom venture into oils or acrylics.  But I intend to in the New Year.  One of my few strayings into these mediums was with an under painting with acrylics finished off with oils…on canvas!  It’s hung on a wall where it receives no direct sunlight. No sign of the problems that MIGHT occur yet, but it’s only 15 years old…so an infant as these things go. But I’ll paint on boards in future.

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
If you’re painting with oils, then use oils from start to finish! That’s my mantra anyway… If fairness, I block in my underpainting quite thinly using a touch of distilled turpentine, so it dries in no time, often within an hour or so, ready for the next layer. Of late, I find myself using less and less thinners, just a drop of turpentine occasionally and I keep away from oils, linseed, stand, walnut or whatever! Oils take time to dry, something that we all know, if that isn’t for you, then switch to acrylics.  Lew, now you’ve got my interest! I’m pleased that you’re intending to give oils a go…  My go to support is from Jackson’s - their cotton or linen covered MDF board, either their own brand, or Belle Arti, both equally as good in my experience! Both ready primed and ready to go… although I do often brush on another layer of gesso. Just to add: I’ve gone right off the synthetic canvas on compressed cardboard, the top brands included… Your best work deserves the best start… 

Edited
by Alan Bickley

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 24815
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 8649
Posted
Alan -  I have a few of these canvases (?) on compressed cardboard  - and I agree entirely with you that they're to be avoided: I imagine you're talking about those with primed surfaces that mimic canvas, rather than the actual canvases mounted on  board - though I'm not so keen on most of those, either.  At the moment, I'm working (so slowly!  ) on ACF; and have several left to try - I will buy from them again; it's only my funereal rate of progress that's inhibited me  (that and the fact that I'm running out of wall and storage space: a cull is coming on soon); I've bought quite a stock of oil and acrylic paint lately, and am about to relaunch in 2026 !   A last effort - perhaps - before the advent of the clammy tomb........
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 24815
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 8649
Posted
Interesting, although I seldom venture into oils or acrylics.  But I intend to in the New Year.  One of my few strayings into these mediums was with an under painting with acrylics finished off with oils…on canvas!  It’s hung on a wall where it receives no direct sunlight. No sign of the problems that MIGHT occur yet, but it’s only 15 years old…so an infant as these things go. But I’ll paint on boards in future.
Lewis Cooper on 20/12/2025 10:01:53
Good to hear that you're still embarking on new projects at an age when too many of us just put our feet up and give up, apart from the occasional potter around the greenhouse!  Any problems which arise with oil over acrylic usually if not always show themselves very early, well before 15 years, so your painting is probably fine; you're right of course that 15 years is the infancy of an oil painting - but  in this case I don't think you need worry at all. 
My Profile pic16

Lewis Cooper

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 6309
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 2573
Posted
Thanks Alan and Robert.  My family asked for Christmas present lists.  When it comes to art supplies I’m very specific these days.  My list includes Jackson’s MDF panels.  My intention is to try both acrylic and oils.  This year I made an abortive attempt at restarting with these mediums.  Acrylic OUGHT to suit me better, but I’d prefer it to be oils.  I’m prepared for it to be a lengthy process, which goes against the grain a bit, but needs must. At the time I received a wealth of helpful advice from your good selves and others.  I’ve saved that thread and shall be swotting up on it.  As my present list was copious, I’ll wait to see if I get the panels.

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
Yes Robert, that’s the ones… a manufactured looking grain pressed into a synthetic piece of whatever and wrapped around a piece of heavily compressed cardboard material. In fairness, I’ve used them for years, we’re talking W&N stuff and the like, not imported rubbish. But… they bend, they soak up moisture and it just isn’t an appealing support in general. Which is why, several years ago, I switched over to the MDF boards with canvas or linen coverings, and cut flush around the edges rather than wrapped around the edges. You can get several grades of canvas also, the rough surface is rather interesting… but that’s because it suits my style of application. I’ve quite a few of these ACF canvases still to use up… I’m not overly impressed but that’s probably because they’re a bit too fine and smooth. Graham did say that he was looking into experimenting with something heavier, we’ll see if that transpires. I’ve had a lean spell with the oils lately, quite a few months in fact without the wonderful smell of oil paints permeating through my modest mansion… life’s blood to me - I must start up again in the new year!