If you’re thinking about picking up a paintbrush for the first time, you might be wondering: should I start with acrylic or oil paint? As someone who works with both, I’ve got some thoughts. While both mediums have their strengths, one is definitely more beginner-friendly than the other—at least when it comes to ease of use and accessibility.
So let’s break it down.
Acrylic Paint: The Beginner’s Best Friend?
Acrylic was the first medium I learned, mostly because it was the only one I knew existed. I figured you had two options: acrylic or watercolor—end of story. Turns out, I was missing a pretty big one (hi, oil paint).
But I’m actually glad I started with acrylic, because it’s one of the easiest mediums to work with when you’re just starting out. Here’s why:
✅ It’s affordable – My first acrylic paints were from the dollar store. Not saying they were great, but they got me started. Even high-quality acrylics are relatively inexpensive compared to oils.
✅ It’s easy to clean – No harsh chemicals, no fancy cleaners—just water and soap (unless it gets on your clothes, in which case…good luck).
✅ It dries fast – Sometimes a little too fast (more on that later), but for a beginner, it means you don’t have to wait days for your painting to dry before moving on.
Acrylic is great for quick studies, experimenting with color, and just getting comfortable with putting paint on a surface. But is it perfect for beginners? Not exactly.
Where Acrylic Can Be Frustrating
For all of its beginner-friendly qualities, acrylic does have some quirks that can trip you up:
⏳ It dries fast – You get maybe a few minutes of blend time before it sets, and once it’s dry, there’s no reworking it. If you try, you might end up lifting the paint and making things worse.
🎨 It dries darker – This one drove me nuts when I first started. The color you mix on your palette will always look lighter than what ends up on your canvas. Why? Because acrylic’s binder is milky when wet but dries clear, which shifts the final color slightly.
🌊 Blending is… a challenge – Even with slow-drying mediums, blending acrylics smoothly takes some serious strategy (or just a willingness to embrace sharp edges).
So while acrylic is easier in many ways, it’s not always forgiving. If you’re okay with working fast and rolling with the punches, it’s a great place to start.
For a great beginner friendly tutorial for painting with acrylic paint on paper, check out my YouTube video below:
What About Oil Paint?
If acrylic is the fast-paced sprinter of the painting world, oil is the chill marathon runner. It’s slow, methodical, and incredibly forgiving—which actually makes it easier in some ways.
🎨 Blending is effortless – Want those buttery soft gradients? Oil makes it happen.
⏳ You have time to work – No racing against the clock here. Oils stay wet for hours (sometimes days), giving you plenty of time to adjust, rework, and refine.
🎯 Colors dry true – Unlike acrylic, oil paint looks the same wet and dry, so what you mix is what you get.
Sounds pretty dreamy, right? It is—but there are some reasons why oil isn’t always ideal for beginners.
❌ It’s messier – Oil paints don’t clean up with water. You’ll need brush cleaner (or Murphy’s Oil Soap, my new favorite).
❌ It has an odor – Not terrible, but if you use certain mediums (like Liquin), you’ll want good ventilation.
❌ It takes forever to dry – If you’re impatient, waiting days for a layer to set can be frustrating.
The below painting, "Opalescent Lake," was painted using oil.
So, Which One Should You Start With?
If you’re brand new to painting and just want to jump in without overcomplicating things, acrylic is the way to go. It’s accessible, dries quickly, and lets you practice without a huge time commitment.
If you’re more patient and love the idea of smooth blends and deep colors, oil paint might be worth exploring—just know that it comes with a bit of a learning curve.
At the end of the day, both are fantastic, and there’s no rule saying you have to pick just one. Try them both and see which feels right for you!
The above painting was painted in acrylic using a limited palette of ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium yellow medium and alizarin crimson.
By the way, if you're interested in learning more about acrylic painting, you can download my FREE ebook here, perfect for beginners. Or, if you'd like to take it a step further, you can enrol in my Painting Flowers in Acrylic course. I'd love to see you there!
If you're interested in reading more, check out my blog post on color mixing here.
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