Many people in the art world still feel that oil paintings are superior or more valuable than acrylic paintings. This is likely because many great painters of the past have used oils and that oil paints have been around for centuries.
When acrylic paints were first introduced, they were inferior to the acrylics that are available today. Today’s acrylics are available in both gloss and matte varieties that can even produce the sheen associated with oil paints. Quality acrylic paints made today also carry the same pigment load as oil paints, and some manufacturers even produce both types of paints.
Acrylic paints offer a non-toxic alternative that is better for the environment as well as human health. Oil paints also tend to decay at a faster rate due to the use of organic materials, whereas acrylics are made from synthetic polymers that will last longer.