Should You Sell Your Art on Etsy? + 5 Vital Tips If You Decide to Go for It

6/21/2019

Should I Sell My Art on Etsy + Essential Tips

Is Etsy a good online marketplace to start selling your art? What are the essential things to know about as a newbie just starting out on this popular platform? Selling art online is as easy as just uploading your work and waiting for the sale, right?

As an artist just starting to make the transition from selling my paintings locally to selling online, I know how confusing and overwhelming it can be to try to make sense of all the information available to us about selling art via the Internet. Even picking a platform to start on can seem like an impossible task.

What if we start on one and it turns out to be a huge waste of money, time and effort?

And there's so much to wrap our heads around, even beyond selecting a platform or marketplace.

We need to learn about online marketing, which is a monster topic in itself that consists (among many other things) of creating a personal brand, building up an audience, learning what works on different social media channels and selecting the one(s) that works best for us, as well as consistently sharing our work/message with the world.

We need to learn about taxes and accounting because, make no mistake, as artists we are creative entrepreneurs. If we want to get to a point at which we're creating a consistent income from our work, we need to start seeing what we're doing as a business and not be afraid of stepping into our entrepreneurial shoes.

As business owners, we must be willing to consistently step out of our comfort zones, accept that we need to pivot or try something new when things are not working, and not be afraid to invest in different parts of our businesses. For some of us, this may even include looking for specialized courses and/or coaching.

Finally, and most importantly, we need to consistently work on our mental and physical well-being because our brands/businesses are an extension of ourselves.

The more time I spend working on building up my own business (which consists of many things aside from selling art online), the more I find this to be true.

It takes a lot of mental strength and deep-rooted determination to stay persistent with learning and implementing. To show up everyday, even when things aren't growing as fast as you'd like them to. To keep believing in oneself and consistently providing value, even when negativity is thrown your way.

I find caring for our mental and physical health is even more important as artists because, not only is what we do so personal, but most of us are working on both our art and all of the aforementioned things alone. We don't have assistants or a team to share our worries (or even wins) with.

I share the specific things I do on a weekly basis to stay happy and productive as an artist in my blog post/YouTube video titled 5 Essential Self-Care Tips for Artists and Creatives.

Because of all this, I'm incredibly thankful that we have the opportunity now-a-days to connect with other creatives around the world and learn from people who are willing to share their experiences/knowledge.

Today, we have writer and seamstress Annabelle Carter Short, who's had her own handmade business for many years, sharing a lot of useful information about selling on Etsy with us.

Let's get into her article!

The Pros and Cons of Selling on Etsy + 5 Key Tips

by Annabelle Carter Short

Click on the photo to visit www.pexels.com

Many independent artists struggle to start selling their work. Not because they're not inspiring or creative, but because they lack an understanding on how to actually sell their art. If you're looking to make money off your art, consider trying Etsy marketplace for a start.

According to Etsy 2018 numbers, the platform has approximately 35.8 million active users, 1.98 million sellers, and over 50 million products listed for sale. With sellers all around the world, Etsy is a marketplace that is well-known for facilitating sales of arts and handmade products.

But, what are the advantages and disadvantages of selling your art through Etsy? And, is it right for you?

Advantages

• It is convenient and has a more accessible set up than building your own website or physical shop.

• Through the years, Etsy has worked hard on its branding. It is already trusted and respected by customers looking for handmade goods. This is a huge help for starting businesses that haven't yet built up an audience or fanbase.

• Etsy has a blog, forums and a lot of resources for users on everything from product photography, customer care, packaging, taxes, branding your shop and much more.

• This platform has a targeted customer base. The audience here is not looking for mass products, and not necessarily for the cheapest ones either. Uniqueness (and quality) is what will sell.

• You can open up your shop for free in a matter of minutes and the fees taken by Etsy when a seller uploads a new product, as well as what it takes when a sale gets made, are very low compared to other selling platforms (like Amazon and eBay) or setting up your own e-commerce website.

• When you get a sale, the money is transferred to you immediately, as opposed to other markets like eBay.

Disadvantages

• Etsy has frequent updates and you will need to always keep learning and adapting to change.

• Competition is fierce (especially for certain niches like jewelry, hair accessories, printables, etc.) and you cannot rely on the platform's search field to be your one and only traffic source. This means that you have to be very hands-on about sharing your work and growing an audience that you can promote it to.

• Though Etsy's fees are a lot lower than other marketplaces like eBay and Amazon, you will have to take them into account, as well as your shipping costs, when you are setting your prices.

• Having a shop on Etsy, means you have your shop on someone else's property. According to their Terms of Service, they can choose to suspend or close your store at any point in time if they feel you aren't playing by their rules. This means, you have to take time reading these documents carefully.

*Verdict

If you're looking to start selling your art online, Etsy is a great option. Through this experience, you'll be able to gain knowledge on the basics you need to succeed online like pricing, customer service, shipping, taxes, and marketing products effectively.

A lot of handmade businesses start on Etsy and move on to creating their own website/e-commerce store after gaining such experience and traction. Many of them keep selling on Etsy even after setting up their own independent shops, because they know the unique opportunities this presence can bring them.

To start on the right foot, you'll need to put some effort into understanding the platform, and how to maximize your business potential. As mentioned above, the competition is high, but that doesn’t mean there is no space for you. You just need to learn how to make people notice your shop.

Here are five essential tips for you.

1. Build your brand

To run a successful Etsy shop, you'll need to work on your branding. Branding is much more that just a logo.

Create and build a brand based on your target market and your unique offer. Besides the aesthetic aspects such your logo, color palette and the look and feel of your photos, you should also study which kinds of words and ideas you'll be using to communicate and connect with your audience.

What messaging can you use to transmit your mission and values? What sets you apart from your competitors?

Good branding is what will make people remember your business.

With your brand in mind, set up your shop for success by creating a cover photo, adding your bio, and even creating a welcoming video for your customers. Make sure to also include polices and not leave any fields blank.

2. Make your product stand out

Do your research and understand your market and competitors. Understand what is trendy, but don’t fall into the trap of doing what everyone is doing.

Differentiate your work by understanding what makes you unique. Maybe you use an interesting combination of art mediums, have a special process or an unusual source of inspiration.

Find what differentiates your products and place them in front of the right niche.

Think of ways in which you can share your process and thoughts with your potential customers so that they can connect with you and understand the hard work that goes behind the creation of your art.

Remember that you are just as important as the art you create and, most of the time, people will buy art because they connect with its creator.

3. Visuals are everything

When people are shopping online, they cannot reach out and touch a product, which is why high-quality images that show the product clearly and in different perspectives is essential.

You'll need to invest time in producing high-quality photos to display your work. Having a good camera and lighting is essential. If you're taking pictures of paintings, don’t forget to also use a tripod, since it will help to maintain stability, alignment, and focus.

Erika offers some great tips on taking quality photos in this blog post.

When creating visuals to upload, think of whether your artwork should be scanned or photographed. Smaller illustrations or even paintings that don't have texture can be scanned, while larger/textured paintings should be photographed.

Also, creating mock ups of your paintings or illustrations showing what they would look like hanging on a wall can really help a customer visualize what it would look like hanging in their home. If you don't have an area to set this up at home, you can buy mock up generator files through www.creativemarket.com that will help your work shine to its full potential.

Finally, consider looking into photo-editing softwares that will help you with color correction, as you always want your visuals to represent the product as truthfully as possible.

Click on photo to visit www.pexels.com.

4. Be found

Like with any search engine, you should make time to learn about SEO and use keywords that will help you get found. Strong keywords will help your products show up in the shopper’s queries listing.

Make sure you're using them in your title, description and filling up all available tags. Brainstorm these keywords first, try to make similar searches and check results.

Title –Be specific and detailed in your title and use words that shoppers are actually typing into the search field (oftentimes these are very different from words we would use). Focus on using the strongest keywords here and stick to the 140 characters limit.

Description – Describe everything you can about your product. Think about possible questions shoppers would have and reply to them into this section. Don’t forget to mention your artwork size, medium, supplies used, care instructions, and any other relevant information.

Tags – Tags are a word or combination of words used to describe your product briefly. You can add up to 13 tags per item listing (use all of them!). Etsy suggests a few keywords to your tags, which you shouldn’t ignore! They are based on the audience’s searches to related products and are extremely useful. Without these tags, chances are your work will be hidden from potential customers.

If you need some extra help into deciding which keywords are best, you could try EtsyRank and/or Marmalead.

5. Get noticed

Every time you publish a new product, it will be displayed on the top of its category for some time. Use this in your favor and don’t upload all your products at once. Choose the best time, when most of your target audience will probably be scrolling on Etsy, and upload your products then.

Another way to get noticed is by driving traffic to your store through social media. Make good use of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and so on. Learn about what works best with each platform and select the ones that are right for you. These tools are the best solution to create awareness and engage with your potential customers.

Remember, social media is all about engagement, not only posting. Use them to create connections with potential customers and stay away from only promoting work you want to sell. Reply to questions, ask your own, and always think of what your possible clients would like to see.

Finally, start to learn about paid promotion to amplify your reach. Think of investing a small amount in targeted campaigns via Facebook and Etsy's own promoted listings and testing out different strategies.

Final Thoughts

Etsy might not be the perfect platform, but it's probably the easiest for beginners. You will have to learn about technicalities and selling strategies, but this is applicable to any other e-commerce platform.

Put some effort into understanding the algorithms, using keywords appropriately, having great photos, managing finances, and driving traffic through your social media. When you feel more confident, you could even open your own website and sell your products directly.

Annabelle Carter Short is a freelance writer and seamstress of more than 7 years. She’s passionate about selling on Etsy and starting a handmade business. In her free time, she likes to make DIY projects with her two kids. Annabelle also works with few organizations to provide the best resources for raising and educating a special needs child.

Follow Annabelle on Facebook here.

I'd like to send out a huge thanks to Annabelle for sharing her expert advice with us.

And I want to encourage you, fellow artist, to make time to establish your own artistic goals. Set a plan for yourself and get to it. Do whatever research you feel you need to do, but don't allow yourself to get stuck or overwhelmed with contradicting or confusing advice.

Take action and implement what you learn because otherwise, you'll never really know if that path will work for your specific situation.

Inform yourself, make a decision based on your gut feeling, and get to it.

As one of my business coaches always says:
"Clarity comes through engagement, not thought."

And even if a platform doesn't turn out to be the best for your own goals, you'll have learned a whole ton from taking action.

Finally, if you're passionate about your art and it's your dream to one day make a living from selling, step one is to get your skills up to a level at which you're able to offer original, quality work with confidence.

Helping aspiring artists progress their skills and find their voice is one of my passions, and I'm here to help in a variety of ways.

Become a member of the Becoming Artists community on Patreon to gain immediate access to content on Art Fundamentals, exclusive drawing and painting tutorials that I don't share anywhere else, as well as live classes and Q&A's in which I answer all your questions.

I'd love to help you out!

Become a Patreon community member to get access to:

-Real-time drawing/painting tutorials with full walkthrough commentary
-Downloadable outline drawings, reference pictures and supply lists
-Weekly sketchbook prompts to help you stay consistent and progressing your art skills
-Direct feedback from me
-Instant access to a growing vault of original reference pictures that you can use for your own art
-Special thanks in YouTube videos and opportunities to get your work shared
-Participation in polls to decide new blog post and YouTube video topics
-Live classes and Monthly Creative Assignments
+ much more!

*Click below to learn more!

Drawing and watercolor painting tutorials on Patreon

Tips to Keep a Well-Organized Art Studio

Time Management for Artists Tips and Goal Setting Worksheets

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My 5 Favorite Podcasts for Artists

5/27/2019

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How does one go about making a living as an artist? How do working artists manage to juggle their art production, marketing, all of the administrative tasks that come with running a business and their own personal life? What does it really take to be able to sell art online? How can we deal with artistic burnout/creative block in order to keep producing consistently?

Podcasts and YouTube videos created by working artists and art-business experts have been invaluable for me ever since I first started planning on leaving my last "normal" full-time position, up until today, as I navigate the challenges of online creative entrepreneurship (while still teaching and selling locally). Today, I'll be sharing my top five.

Honestly, if it weren't for all of these amazing people sharing their own experiences and advice so generously, I don't think I'd be here today. I simply wouldn't of had the courage to leave my many years of working as an employee and starting my own art business.

Check out my past blog post/YouTube video titled How I Became an Artistpreneur to learn everything I did to prepare to leave my last full-time job.

I absolutely love listening to these podcasts as I draw or paint and I highly recommend all of them to anyone who's just getting started with selling their art or wants to make any amount of income through their artistic skills. All of these are both inspiring and incredibly useful as they provide practical, actionable tips to help get your art career up-and-running.

I talk more about each of the podcasts in this video and you'll be able to find direct links to all of them below.

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel! I share a new video every-single-Friday with art tips, drawing/painting tutorials and encouragement for aspiring artists.

Best Podcasts for Artists

1. Creative Pep Talk
http://www.creativepeptalk.com/episodes/

2. Art Biz Coach Podcast
https://artbizsuccess.com/podcasts/

3. The Jealous Curator (Art for Your Ear)
http://www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/art-for-your-ear-podcast/

4. The Thriving Artist
https://clarkhulingsfund.org/chfpodcast/

5. Beyond the Studio
https://www.beyondthe.studio/

Hope you enjoy them and find them inspiring and helpful!

Become a Patreon community member to get access to:

-Real-time drawing/painting tutorials with full walkthrough commentary
-Downloadable outline drawings, reference pictures and supply lists
-Weekly sketchbook prompts to help you stay consistent and progressing your art skills
-Direct feedback from me
-Instant access to a growing vault of original reference pictures that you can use for your own art
-Special thanks in YouTube videos and opportunities to get your work shared
-Participation in polls to decide new blog post and YouTube video topics
-Live classes and Monthly Creative Assignments
+ much more!

*Click below to learn more!

Why Sketchbooks are Essential Tools for Artists and Tips

How I Left My Job and Became an Artistpreneur

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My Best Secrets to Avoid or Overcome Artistic Block

5/8/2019

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Do you frequently go through periods of feeling too unmotivated or uninspired to work on your art? Do other artists' posts on social media make you feel behind, inadequate, and/or like you'll never be able to reach their skill level? Do you often struggle with finding new ideas to create original and meaningful artwork, and wonder how other artists seem to be able to constantly pump out new work?

In the video included in this post, I'll be sharing ten specific things I do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis that help me avoid art block, as well as practical tips to overcome it. It's important to understand that burnout happens to all kinds of creators from time to time. Every-single-one of us goes through periods in which we're unable to produce the same amount of work (or the level of work) that we know we could be producing.

There's nothing wrong with you and this says nothing about your abilities. If it happens frequently, though, it's essential to set systems in place that will help you move past them and continue progressing towards your goals as quickly as possible.

Being an artist is tough!

If we really want to improve our skills and make a living (or side income) from our art one day, it's essential to stay determined and disciplined. We have to consistently create new work and have the courage to share it, as well as our inner thoughts, with the world. Even when no one seems to be paying attention.

We're also often very hard on ourselves and expect the outcome of our work to be perfect, even when we're exhausted after having been at work (or school) all day. Even when it's our first time using a specific medium, technique or we're drawing/painting a subject we've never tried before.

Many times, creative burnout happens because we're not taking care of our physical and mental well-being, and/or aren't setting goals wisely. Read about the top five things I do every-single-week to stay happy, healthy and productive as an artist in my blog post: 5 Essential Self-Care Tips for Artists and Creatives.

And if your art is what you're actually doing for a living (or plan to be doing for a living), you also need to make time for countless other activities, aside from creating your art. Activities that not only aren't fun, but that will also require you to step out of your comfort zone constantly. *It's worth it though!

Not to mention, if we didn't have the immense fortune of being born into a family of successful artists that can share their path(s) with us, or didn't have the luck to be financially well-off to the point that we had the time to discover ourselves artistically from a young age, we're probably going to have to work "normal" jobs for at least a few years while staying consistent with our art routines.

In my blog post How to Make Time for Your Art I share the specific things I did while I was still working at my last, highly-demanding, full time position in order to ensure I was advancing my art skills. These are all specific actions I took that eventually allowed me to leave that job and start my own art business.

Let's get into the video!

If you enjoyed this video, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel. I publish a new one every-single-Friday sharing art tips, drawing/painting tutorials and encouragement for aspiring artists!

Become a Patreon community member to get access to:

-Real-time drawing/painting tutorials with full walkthrough commentary
-Weekly sketchbook prompts to help you stay consistent and progressing your art skills
-Downloadable outline drawings, reference pictures and supply lists
-Direct feedback from me
-Downloadable workbook titled How to Discover Your Artistic Voice
-Instant access to a growing vault of original reference pictures that you can use for your own art
-Special thanks in YouTube videos and opportunities to get your work shared
-Participation in polls to decide new blog post and YouTube video topics
-Live classes and Monthly Creative Assignments
+ much more!

*Click below to learn more!

Why Sketchbooks are Essential Tools for Artists

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Decorating with Original Art: Incredible Finds #1

4/22/2019

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If you're a visual/creative person like I am, you're probably well aware of how your surroundings can affect your mood and even your productivity levels. At the same time, it's likely important to you that your home (being the extension of yourself that it is) is able to transmit your personality and uniqueness.

I've always been drawn to interior decorating and consider this practice an art in and of itself. Being able to "collect" objects that will look great together and being able to place them in a way that is harmonious for people visiting that space, is no easy feat.

Interior decorators have an amazing eye and taste. They're artists, because they are basically creating a live-in composition that has to stay practical. They can tell, instantly, when textures, colors, shapes and styles work together or not. They know the power that a great piece of wall art can have and how the addition of a painting (or a lack thereof) can make or break a room.

In her article titled The Importance of Art in the Interior Industry, Anya Cooklin-Lofting explains how art is becoming a fundamental part of modern home decorating. She also shares how most interior designers currently rave about the importance of art as an essential decorative component. Art is able to bring interest, conversation and originality to a space.

It might seem that the acquisition of an original art piece is something that only the most affluent can do. However, thanks to Etsy and other online platforms, anyone looking to decorate their home can find very accessible, one-of-a-kind artworks created by artists of all fields.

Hope you enjoy this little collection of objects I've put together to complement this small grayscale painting that is currently for sale at my Etsy shop! Stay tuned for many more original paintings to come that will be available for international purchase!

Links to all products are included below.

Cheers!

Home decorating finds by Erika Lancaster

1. Petrie 2-Piece Right Arm Chaise Midcentury Sectional Sofa at Crate&Barrel
2. Pebble Double Bulb Floor Vase at DwellStudio
3. Arguto Rug (Designed by Hanne Kortegaard for Linie Design) at Design Within Reach
4. BONGO floor lamp at Structube
5. Small Grayscale Oil Painting by Erika Lancaster at Etsy

Original oil painting by Erika Lancaster

Sources:
Cooklin-Lofting, Anya. "The Importance of Art in the Interior Industry". The Independent. 22 March 2018
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/design/importance-of-art-interior-design-industry-a8266981.html

Don't Be Afraid of Oil Paint + My Alla Prima Process

How I Left My Job and Became and Artistpreneur

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Acrylics vs. Oils: Key Differences and Similarities

4/17/2019

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Similarities Between Acrylics and Oil Paint

*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)

Wondering what the difference between acrylic and oil paint is? How do they compare in regards to required supplies, painting process and overall finish? Which one of these two painting mediums is best for you, your artistic goals and your current life situation?

In today's blog post (and the YouTube video included), I'll be explaining the key similarities and differences between acrylic and oil paint. I'll also be clearing up common misconceptions so that you can make an informed decision about which supplies to invest in and, most importantly, start moving forward in your artistic journey right away!

When I was first starting to look into painting, I was very confused about the similarities and differences between these two mediums. Not only did the examples of artwork I found created with each vary immensely, but there were also tons of contradictions between one article/book to the next in terms of the required supplies, the preparation phase, and the painting process itself.

It was honestly overwhelming and I didn't have time to make sense of it all. Quite often, I held myself back from buying any supplies and moving forward due to this.

Eventually, there came a point at which I could no longer ignore my desire to improve artistically, highly-demanding full-time job and all. I had already wasted too much time and knew that the best way to learn and to make sense of it all would be through actually doing. I visited my local art supply store, and with the information I had learned from my research (as well as with the help graciously provided by the lady at the store), bought a few items to explore.

I share more about how I finally prepared to leave years and years of "normal" full-time positions to pursue creative entrepreneurship in this blog post/YouTube video.

Suffice to say, a lot of supplies were wasted or left completely unused. And not only were a lot of bad paintings created, but several of them literally fell apart after a couple of months (don't ask).

I don't regret it though, because I learned so much through this first-hand exploration, both about different painting mediums, as well as about myself as an artist. What I like, don't like, what techniques suit the style I'm going for best, etc.

After years of practice and exploration I've been able to learn a lot about acrylics, oils and even watercolors. I love them all, use them all on a month-to-month basis, and have come to know the pros and cons of each throughout this time.

If you're just as confused and overwhelmed as I was all those years ago, but still feel that nagging inside telling you to get painting (it never goes away by the way), the following information will definitely help you make faster progress. However, as with all artistic mediums and supplies, it's going to be up to you to commit to this journey and the exploration it entails, in order to get to know yourself artistically and the specific supplies you personally enjoy.

Let's get into today's topic!

Introduction

Oil paint is an incredibly old medium and has been used by artists since the fourteenth century. Before oils existed, most paintings were created with egg tempera, which was basically created by the mixture of ground pigment and egg. Though some artists continued using tempera (and this medium is still used by some in present day), oil paint became the preferred medium once it was invented due to its greater versatility and longer-working time which allowed for effects that hadn't been seen before.

On the other hand, acrylics are a modern invention. They were created in the middle of the twentieth century as a practical substitute for oil paint. Acrylic paintings can be finalized a lot quicker due to their fast drying time, and offer both versatility and durability. This medium allows the artist a wide range of approaches and seems to go more in hand with today's fast-paced world.

In time, a lot of artists who used to work with oils made the switch to acrylics due to their overall practicality. However, there are others who's hearts will forever remain with oils due to the richness, vibrancy and depth they're able to provide.

It's important to recognize that both painting mediums allow for a variety of art styles, techniques, methodologies and overall finishes. Whether you enjoy creating abstract art, stylized figures, Impressionistic-style brush strokes or hyperrealism, all of these can be achieved with either. It's just a matter of learning specific skills and techniques.

As with anything else, there are pros and cons to both mediums. Understanding them will enable us to come to a better decision about which could be best for us depending on our personal situation and goals.

Similarities and Differences Between Acrylics and Oils

1. Drying Time

Acrylics dry fast, which means we have to work fast if we're looking to create gradients or wet-on-wet blending effects. Paint literally dries in minutes, depending on the humidity and the temperature of the room you're working in.

Oil paint, on the other hand, dries very slowly (some pigments even more than others). This means you can take your time moving paint around and blending out colors. It can take an oil painting months upon months to dry completely, depending on the thickness of your layers! This means that, if you're intending to varnish your paintings, it'll be a while before you're able to do that.

There are mediums that can be added to both acrylics and oils to either slow down or quicken their drying time, depending on your needs. You're always going to be able to manipulate both painting mediums in terms of their workability during the painting process, as well as their overall outcome, but it is going to entail buying medium to mix in.

Mandarins- Still life acrylic painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster

Acrylic painting close-up

2. Cost

Generally speaking, painting with acrylics is going to be cheaper than painting with oils. Not only because the paint in and of itself tends to cost less, but also because (for basic paintings) less supplies are required than when we're painting with oils.

All we really need to paint with acrylics is:

Paint
Brushes
Water
Color mixing palette
Substrate (which can even be thick paper)

What we need when painting with oils:

Paint
Brushes
Solvent/paint thinner
Color mixing palette
Primed substrate that's been prepared to take oil paint (which often entails buying gesso)
Painting medium (its not 100% necessary, but it helps make the thick paint more manageable to work with)

*This said, there are oil painters out there that have found alternatives to potentially harmful solvents and mediums, so if you're interested in trying them out but you're afraid of harming your health and/or the environment, be aware there are work-arounds!

3. Toxicity and Health Risks

A lot of aspiring artists avoid painting with oils because the process involves using solvents and mediums which can be harmful to both our health if we're not careful, as well as to the environment, if we don't know how to properly dispose of these substances.

To avoid potential health risks:

Work in a well-ventilated room (consider also wearing a nose mask)
Wear gloves (I love these I buy through Amazon)
Never dump used solvent down the drain! *Learn how to dispose of used hazardous substances in your city.

All this said, something you should definitely know is that oil paint in and of itself isn't any more toxic than acrylic paint. The solvents and the mediums that we add to them while painting are.

Oil paint is composed of pigment that is suspended in an oil-based binder such as linseed oil, safflower oil, poppy oil or walnut oil. Even though these oils are heavily refined, they are all plant-based and non-toxic.

On the other hand, acrylic paint consists of pigment and a synthetic resin binder. The components within this resin binder vary from brand to brand. Acrylic paints are basically plastic, and when they are used, chemicals like ammonia are released into the air.

Even though using acrylics isn't as smelly as working with oils, don't think that you're not breathing harmful fumes in!

There are specific pigments that are highly toxic, whether we're using acrylics, oils or even watercolors. Some of them are: Cadmium Red/Orange/Yellow, Prussian Blue and Naples Yellow. *Please do further research if you're interested in learning the level of toxicity for a specific pigment.

There are excellent brands of art supplies like Gamblin that are coming out with more and more products, including solvents and mediums, that aren't toxic.

Whichever painting medium you decide to go for, make sure you're exercising precaution and safety measures, at all times.

Lemons and Flowers- Still life oil painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster

Oil painting close-up

4. Painting Process

There are many different ways of going about using acrylic and oil paint, and it's really going to depend on the overall style that you wish to achieve.

I really enjoy the more Impressionistic/expressive style that the alla prima (wet-on-wet) technique allows and use it with both of these mediums. *This is the technique I'm using in the video included here. I simply go about it a slightly different way, depending on the medium on hand.

For example, because oil paint dries so slowly, I have to be much more careful not to over-blend and/or create mud when placing fresh paint on paint that's still wet. Because acrylics dry so quickly, the paint strokes I lay down will dry and not move minutes later, when I place fresh paint on top. They also allow for quicker corrections that have to be made.

However, high levels of realism through a development of a variety of layers and washes can also be achieved with both mediums!

Because acrylics dry so fast, a lot of layers and effects can be developed in a matter of hours. On the other hand, when working with oils, we have to wait for the previous layer to dry completely before applying the next or we risk the top layer cracking. It can take several days and even weeks for one layer of oil paint to dry completely.

One very important thing when working with oils, is that we need to follow the fat over lean rule, which is even more important if you're working in layers. This basically means that the earlier layers of a painting have to be thinner and have to contain less oil, and as you move forward, the layers are thicker and contain more oil. This can be done by shifting the ratios of solvent/paint/medium in color mixtures and ensures that layers will dry effectively. This is vital so that the paint doesn't start cracking.

One final point I'd like to add in this section, is that acrylics and oils can be combined in one same piece. A lot of artists stain their canvas or develop an underpainting using acrylics and then move on to developing further details and textures using oils.

You can use oils over dry acrylics but never, ever use acrylics over oils!

5. Overall Look and Finish

Because oil paint contains more pigment than acrylic paint, colors in oil paintings usually look a lot richer, more vibrant and glossy. This said, even though oil paintings can last a very long time if they have been created using quality supplies and proper methods, they do tend to fade and/or yellow over time. It'll be years and years before this happens though!

Acrylic paintings, on the other hand, usually look a lot more matte and flat when compared to oil paintings. Colors also tend to darken during the drying phase. However, once this drying process is completed and this color change happens, they don't change after that as long as they are kept in an optimum environment (away from direct sunlight and humidity).

As far as texture goes, we can find both acrylic and oil paintings that are very smooth, as well as highly-texturedized. Oil paint lends itself to very easily be placed thickly on the canvas, leading to beautiful, palpable textures, if that's what the artist is intending to create. However, texture mediums can be added to acrylic paint and impasto-like effects can also be created by placing it heavily on the substrate using different tools like painting knives. The artist can also create a texturedized surface prior to starting to paint.

The overall finish of both acrylic and oil paintings can also be altered by using different types of varnishes, depending on whether you'd like your painting to appear more matte or glossy. There are a lot of different varnishes available in both spray and liquid form that offer a variety of finishes.

Bats- Abstract oil painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster

Oil painting close-up

So, which medium is best for you?

This is going to depend on your personal circumstances, as well as your tastes and what you're looking to improve upon.

If you usually don't have much time for your art, don't have a designated space to work in, or you have kids or pets running around, acrylics are probably the best option for you (at least for now).

On the other hand, if you do have a space you can work in for hours-on-end, you aren't too sensitive to strong smells, you're interested in learning classical techniques, and/or you really care about the depth/color/richness of your paintings, then I'd definitely explore oils!

Whatever medium you choose to go for, make sure you exercise safety measures.

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