Close, but this stuff has a pigment or medium of some kind or something in it that really simulates dirt. And their system of brushing it on and then taking most of it back off with a wet paper towel seems to work better than trying the same thing with acrylic. Don't know why, but that's been my experience. And I've always found tempra (sp?) paints easier for me to use than acrylics. I do like artists oils for stuff like dark sienna pin washes, though. I just wish I could learn how to do washes on faces and have them come out right. Hmmm ... try, try again. No, wait ... "Try Not! Do or Do Not. There is no try." - Yoda