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Painting oil over acrylic
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Message
Posted
At art group over the next four weeks we are being asked to do a portrait in acrylics, and then overpaint it in oils.
This seems a bit pointless to me although I'll be happy to be proved wrong. Always impatient I bought a set of cheap oils and grabbed an acrylic portrait (there is no shortage!) to have a go with.
In the picture everything on the left apart from the background is oil and everything on the right of an imaginary line down the middle of her face is the original acrylic. I'm sorry but I still don't get it. There might be a marginal improvement but it is marginal and now it won't be dry until Saturday!
Am I missing something? The tuition we get over the next few weeks will be interesting but I am still not convinced and it's cost me a set of oil paints (decent ones, they haven't arrived yet). Do others do this, and if so...why?!!
Edited
by Peter Smith
Posted
Peter I like the portrait that you have done. Now coming to the reasons why start with acrylics and finish with oils are many. I will explain some here:
-Acrylics dry within minutes to hours, allowing the artist to block in shapes, colors, and composition quickly without waiting days.
-Acrylics are practical for covering large areas or creating an underpainting before switching to oils.
- You get a stable underpainting -Once fully dry, acrylic forms a solid film that oil paint can adhere to, making it a reliable foundation. Oilon top of Acrylic is used to get glow, depth and texture.
Oil paints have unique transparency and luminosity, creating richer color blending, subtle glazes, and a glowing finish that acrylics cannot fully achieve.
The rule is Always apply oil over acrylic and never acrylic over oil. Acrylic must be completely dry before oils are added, otherwise adhesion problems or cracking may occur.
The advantage to do this way is that one can speedily apply acrylic colors build layers etc. and that applying oil on top of acrylics gives the luxury and depth of the oils. So it is time saving.
Edited
by Magdalena Oberg
Posted
I used to do this many years ago, primarily because I wasn’t as confident with oils - I’m talking years ago. As regards drying, Peter, buy yourself a tube of alkyd white, it’ll speed up drying. White is used so often in mixing so as you incorporate it into the other colours they will dry quickly - touch dry overnight if not completely dry. The earth colours dry quickly on their own anyway. I don’t use it often but it can be very useful if you’re in a hurry. Don’t squeeze a lot of alkyd white out though, it’ll be virtually dry the next day.
Posted
I'm not really bothered about the drying time, at this time of year I can put the picture out in the garage for a few days. I understand what you are saying Magdalena but I still feel that I can achieve all I want using acrylics, and the picture proves my point. I'll have another go tomorrow, I'll paint over a whole portrait in oil and then compare the two photographs of it, before and after. Watch this space!
Final question - does this only apply to portraits?
By the way, I'm having to use black at the moment because my Paynes Grey hasn't arrived.
Edited
by Peter Smith
Posted
Peter, I have never blocked in with acrylic then applied oil over the top. I do the blocking in, in oil. I should imagine your tutor wants you to do the blocking in with the acrylic, simplifying the complex structures in the face. Getting your lights and darks in place. In essence a foundation ready to apply the makeup on top. Your underpainting will dry very quickly. When you get started on the oil stage, hopefully you will have already mapped basic shapes ready to build upon. I should imagine your tutor may use some layering techniques to build form and depth, leaving the detailing till last.
Posted
I can't imagine why anyone would recommend this - it's pointless. Oil may or may not take over acrylics, and provided you paint the acrylic thinly, I don't see why it need be a problem. On the other hand, I can't see any good reason to bother with it. I start with oil and proceed with oil - or acrylic and proceed with acrylic. What IS the point of combining the two?
Posted
By the way Peter - your eyes are getting WAY too close to your ears again - rein 'em in, boy; eyes are basically round - a little bit oval perhaps, but they don't go for a little walk around the side of the face, you're leaving too little room for other facial features because you've let those seductive eyes draw you in too far. In reply to a question that I missed, no, it doesn't only apply to portraits, you CAN apply oils over acrylics for landscapes, seascapes, or whatever you want - if you REALLY want to. I just don't see even the least point in doing that - it just means you can't get the results you want in acrylic alone, to which the answer is - practise more with acrylic.
And remember - you might see the face straight on, but it still CURVES - the danger of painting the way you have this time is that it can look as though someone has dropped a very heavy weight on someone and flattened their features. Being cruel to be kind here - I don't mind being cruel to be cruel, either - but I'm sure you'll improve your paintings by observing the curve of the face: it's not a mask ... there's a big danger in not seeing the actual forms through the make-up.
Posted
Ah - apologies. I thought you'd slipped back to evil old ways. You're right, anyway; there is no useful purpose in painting oil over acrylic - you can do it, whereas (and as we all know) you can't do the reverse: well you can - but then you can take Prussic acid once - but why would you? A rough-in can just as easily be done with oil, thinned as required; and if you've done a decent acrylic, why on earth paint it out with oil?
But I suppose this is an exercise, and as such it'll have its value.
Edited
by Robert Jones, Napa