Watercolour Sketch Or an Oil Painting?
Someone has just asked me what the difference was between a watercolour sketch and an oil painting, so I thought I would write a quick post about this. Well, where do I start? It’s like comparing a quick sandwich with a 3 course meal (both can be delicious, of course). Please note I am talking about my paintings specifically, not just generally every painting ever made. I am not going to start talking about what each paint is made of and the huge difference in how it’s painted, as I am not intending to send you to sleep. Instead I will tell you what the difference is for you and keep it short and sweet.
Watercolour Sketch (or Illustration)
A watercolour sketch is a quick ink drawing on paper, coloured with watercolour paint. Most of my watercolour sketches take between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the size and how complicated the sketch is. It’s always on paper. I can’t use canvas for this. A line drawing is the base of each sketch. The finish is matte.
It’s easy to frame but I always recommend using a mounting and having it framed under glass, as a watercolour paint is water soluble even when dry and the painting can get damaged.
I use the best materials and archive quality paper so your watercolour sketch should last, but it will never be as durable and last as long as an oil painting.
Oil Painting
Oil painting is painted with oil paints on board or canvas and it’s richer in tone and colour, which doesn’t mean it has to be dark, it can be full of light as well. There is no visible line drawing, the whole painting is just oil paint. The finish is silky or slightly glossy. I can’t tell you exactly how long it takes as I paint in several layers with drying time in between each, and every painting is different. But it takes much, MUCH longer than a watercolour sketch, so naturally it cost a lot more.
Oil painting is very durable and will last for centuries (when done correctly, of course). I also protect it with a layer of art varnish. You can safely wipe your painting with a soft damp cloth.
It can be more tricky to frame if it’s on canvas, as it’s deeper and not all frames are deep enough. However, painting on board will fit in most frames. Oil painting doesn’t need to be behind glass, in fact I don’t recommend it.
To find out more about oil painting have a peek at this page