Artists made their own canvases by interlacing threads together to form the canvas. Canvas replaced wood as a painting supply in the 12th and 13th century. Paintings that artists painted on using canvas lasted though out time and we are able to esteem the artworks of early artist painted on these canvases. Oil paint derived from Rome and Greece in the 14th century as an art supply but Discovery News reported February 19, 2008 an oil painting as early as 650 AD.
The most popular types of paint used on canvas are oil and acrylic. Oil paint was the first paint used to paint on canvas. Acrylic paint was derived in America in 1964 according to About.com and 20th Century Inventors. It's rumored that acrylic was used as far back as 1850. Today water-based oil paint is widely available and a popular medium for painting on canvas. Water-based oil paint makes it easy to clean up and the user avoids having to use additional chemicals to use it.
One can usually identify an oil painting by the color. Oil paint has more pigment and appears brighter. According to Encyclopedia.com the oil paintings yellow over time and is a tell tale sign that the painting is an oil painting.
The real difference is to the painter the acrylic paint dries faster and the oil paint dries slower.
Canvas has the latent ability to be used with many forms of mixed media such as acrylics and ink. One could use pencils and ink, pastels or dye raw unprocessed canvas. The popular choice is usually between acrylic and oil paint. With canvas the limitation on what kind of paint to use are generally abound with possibilities.
The results of using acrylic paint and canvas are generous to the artist ability. The outcome is achieving a painting with attractive quality. The same as well are the results of using oil paint on a canvas. The consideration of what type of paint to use is the painter's preference.
Whether one uses oil paint or acrylic paint on the canvas, the harmony with the supply is successive. As artists continue to practice the profession of painting on canvas, the trio will remain composed.