Oil vs. Acrylic Painting: Picking the Right Medium for You

Oil | Acrylic

David Langevin wanted to be an artist from a very young age and so when I graduated high school I went on to study Fine Arts in college and university. I did not learn a lot about how to be a better artist or painter, and they taught us nothing about the professional life of an artist and how to make a living in the trade.

After graduating university I spent years studying materials and techniques of painting and in particular, the methods of the Old Masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

When I developed my courses and workshops for artists I decided that I would focus on teaching all of the stuff that I wanted to learn in school:  Being a master of my craft, and; understanding the strategies and skills required to make a living selling my art. I have also learned that the best way to learn almost any skill set is to learn directly from an accomplished professional in the field – a Master (or Sage).

Taking workshops and getting mentoring is the way to go for any artist wanting to be a better painter, and a more successful entrepreneur.

~ David

Acrylic

Christina Ramos is a nationally recognized artist from Southern California. Her work focuses on figurative realism, and contemporary portraiture. Recognized by Southwest Art Magazine as a winner in their annual “Artistic Excellence” competition, as well as being a featured artist in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazines article “21 Figure Paintings You Must See” her unique style and imaginative subject matter has made her a favorite among collectors in the United States and Europe. Her work has been honored with awards from Max Ginsburg, Dean Mitchell,

Tony Pro, Kristin Hoerth (Editor and Chief of Southwest Art Magazine), and Lisa Temper Hanover the Director and CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum.

Her innovative use of acrylic has made her a much sought after demonstrator and instructor. She is currently a Golden Working Artist representing Golden Artist Colors Company, and a painting instructor at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art.

Oil | Acrylic | Gouache

No matter where I go, I find beauty in the light and its shifting, shimmering spectrum of colors. A strong believer in finding joy in the little things in life, I seek to capture and share the moments that give me the most happiness, that evoke the rawest of uplifting emotions human nature has to offer. Manifesting these twinkles of delight in a contemporary impressionistic painting style is my way to bring attention to the beauty found everywhere in our immediate surroundings, seen by those who slow down to look and notice.
I find inspiration for my next painting not necessarily in an object considered beautiful in the conventional sense: My desire to paint is mostly ignited by watching the effects of light. Illuminating something in all its brilliance through luminous colors and interesting designs, light has the power to elevate an object from the mundane to the exquisite. How light influences color, the mood, and the energy of a scene has been a source of endless fascination for me.

Expressing my joie de vivre through loose brushstrokes in combination with a well thought-through design and vibrant color choices translate into a painting that resonates not only with me as artist but also with the viewers, offering them a view of things that might otherwise have gone unnoticed and connecting them to feelings possibly forgotten.