Oil-based paints are also known as Enamel paints, and they use an oil-based solvent. This solvent is usually a kind of natural oil like linseed oil; the soil can also be synthetic alkyd.

The solvent consists of the colored pigment and resin, as well as a kind of solvent thinner. Together, they form the paint. When the paint is applied to paper, wall or canvas, the thinner evaporates and the resin forms a hard coating.

These paints are used on surfaces where the painter wants it to last a long time, as oil-based paint can withstand almost everything.

It is mostly in wall paints and murals that oil-based paint is used, because the resin makes an impenetrable coating on most surfaces that cannot be perforated by water or air.

Water-based paints are also known as Acrylic or Latex paint. Both in artwork and household work, water-based paints are slowly replacing all other kinds of paints because they happen to be more environmentally friendly.

Water-based paints consist of colored pigment, and a special kind of binder that uses water as the carrier. These kinds of paints give an impressive color retention with time; they also dry faster and don’t give out any harmful odors.

These paints are also extremely long-lasting. Apart from artwork, water-based paints are used in painting the exterior walls of buildings as well as any place that experiences a lot of moisture.