Traditionally oil paints were favoured by artists for their richer pigments which whilst taking some time to dry created great surface texture. Acrylics previously were seen as a lesser medium with a flatter finish, however with modern evolution they are often used in contemporary art where they rival oil paints for variety and vibrancy in colour. With the advantage of drying quickly (often within as little as an hour), this has given artists the opportunity to paint with great speed and complexity, adding multiple layers over a shorter period of time.