What are the differences between acrylic, oil, and water based paint?
Acrylic and water-based paint (including water-miscible oil paints) are soluble with water. Oil paint is soluble with thinner like turpenoid or linseed oil. Mixing these elements will not work for the old oil-and-water reason. You also shouldn’t use the same brushes and mixing containers for both. Keep some for oil-based media and some for water-based media. Acrylic is opaque and has a heavier body to it, like oil paint, but is soluble with water and cleans up with soap and water. There are mediums that are made specifically for changing the consistency and texture of acrylic paints — they won’t work well with other kinds of paint. Water based paint includes gouache (opaque watercolors), watercolor, and acrylic as well as water-miscible oils. Oil-based paint has a glow and an older “feel” that is hard to replicate with acrylic.
