How to Use Acrylic Latex & Oil Paints Together

Mixed-media artists are constantly looking for new ways to "mix it up," and that includes using different kinds of paint together. Even those who are new to mixed media are curious about how to create mixed-media paintings. The trick is knowing what will mix and what will not.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Acrylic paint
• Oil paint
• Turpentine
• Water
• Paint brushes
• Two paint palettes
• Clean cloth
• Pre-primed canvas

1. 
    

   Using the acyclic paint, create an under painting on your pre-primed piece of canvas. This will serve as the background for your painting.

2. 
    

   Use layers of acrylic paint to build up texture on your painting. Because the paint dries quickly, you will be able to achieve results quickly.

3. 
    

   Once the acrylic paint has completely dried, add a thin layer of oil paint to your piece. Thin out the oils using turpentine, or a mix of turpentine and linseed oil.

4. 
    

   Once you are happy with how the composition of your painting is going, begin building up layers. If you are unhappy with how the painting is coming out, use a clean cloth to wipe away the oil paint. This will reveal the dried acyclic paint beneath.

Tips & Warnings

• Oil only works on top of dried acyclic paint.
• When you're ready to paint using oils, put away all your acrylic paint so they don't get mixed up by mistake.
• Use separate paint palettes for the oil and the acrylic paint.
• Acrylic paint must be completely dry before adding oil paint.
• Oil-based paint and acrylic paint, which is water-based, will not mix.
• If you paint oil over acrylic paint, the paint will fall off when it dries.

Resources

• Mixed Media Arts