Chart comparing oil and acrylic: oil thins with turpentine or mineral spirits, acrylic with water; oil handling changes with more oil and driers, acrylic with gels, pastes and retarders; oil brushes clean in solvent that is reused once pigment settles, acrylic in soap and water; never pour either down the drain.

Concept · Working With Each

Mediums, Solvents and Cleanup

A medium is added to paint to change how it handles. A solvent thins oil paint and cleans the brushes.

Water does both jobs for acrylic. Oil's solvents call for care.

  • Turpentine fumes irritate eyes, nose and throat; one university art department treats mineral spirits the same.
  • Ventilate, cover jars and wear nitrile gloves; latex doesn't block solvents.
  • Low-odor mineral spirits are safer than regular spirits or turpentine, not harmless.
  • Oily rags can self-heat and catch fire; keep them in water in a closed can or a metal fireproof bin.

Image: Made for this site · Original work

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