If you're an artist or art-lover it would come as no surprise that oil paints cost more than acrylic paints and therefore an oil painting will often come with a heftier price-tag. Whether or not oil is actually better than acrylic is a debated topic. Some artists religiously and solely use thick, buttery oils while some love water-soluble acrylics. There are artists that use both mediums, sometimes on the same canvas no less.

Both oil and acrylic can produce beautiful works of art, the quality of the work is truly all about the artist in the end. Yet, we art lovers are left wondering why do oils cost more? Is oil worth more?

If you are a lover of art history or one who frequents art museums, you know that oil painting has a long and rich history. Oil painting is traced back as early as the 13th century, when it was used in England for interior decorating purposes. It was in the 15th century that oil paints were primarily used for works of art.

Acrylics paints, on the other hand (or palette) are a fairly new invention. They were first available in the 1950's. Acrylic is said to keep color well while oil tends to fade over time, yet we also know from oil painting's long history, that the long-lasting-life of an oil painting is indisputable.

The main working-difference with acrylic and oil is how the paint dries. Acrylic dries quickly, while oil takes much more time to dry. Depending on the amount of paint used, oils can take months to dry. This allows the artist to continue working on and perfecting the piece for an extended time, producing a much more realistic painting.

Between the higher cost of oil paints, the consuming time it takes to create a piece and the high quality of painting that oil creates, it is easy to see why oil comes with a pricier tag. Because of these qualities oil is notably a harder medium to tame. Oil paintings also come with a heavier price because they are created by skilled and experienced artists, acrylic is sometimes seen as the beginners paint of choice. In the same vein it has been said that oil is the choice of art enthusiasts. With it's rich history and finicky consistency, oil painting is seen as having more prestige.

While the beauty is in the hands on the artist, there is something to be said for the medium. While acrylic has it's own lovely nature, the true difference is that you cannot get the aesthetic or textures of oil by using acrylics. Oils are more transparent than acrylic and bring brighter, truer colors. Acrylic paint can never reproduce the sensuous quality of layered oil paints on canvas. Oil lends itself to greater possibilities in this realm, making it indeed more valuable than acrylic, in my opinion.