How to Make an Acrylic Painting Look Like an Oil Painting

A great artist named Thomas Andrew taught me how to use an oil stain over an acrylic painting to make it look like a true oil painting.

This technique is so easy, but it has such a big impact.

Continue reading to learn how the procedure is carried out.
How to Apply the Stain to Your Canvas Painting
To apply the Thomas Andrew technique just use a sponge brush, or a cotton rag and apply a liberal amount in an even layer over the entire completely dry acrylic painting.

It's best to wait a few days to be absolutely sure the paint is fully dried before adding the stain layer over it.

I like to use the golden blonde oak stain for mine, and I think it adds a nice warm glow without being too dark. But depending on what your subject is, you may use any color stain you choose.

Once the layer of stain is fully covering the whole painting, use a cotton rag to wipe off the excess and instantly it will take on the glow of an oil based painting. It's an amazing transformation you'll want to share with all your artist friends.

Before and After
before stain

Candice L Collins

after stain (and after a few tweaks I wasn't happy with lol)

Candice L Collins

Thomas Andrew Art
Which Stain is Best?
Thomas Andrew recommends the Minwax brand and I've enjoyed using that brand as well. I like the Golden Oak color, but you are free to use whatever you color you like.

There's another brand of stain I like as well called Unicorn Spit, as that comes in many colors of the rainbow if you're looking for a wild edge.

But for these purposes of creating an acrylic painting that looks like it's an oil painting I'd stick with the Minwax brand in a lighter shade.