Water Soluble Oil Paints – Facts, Tips, and Why I Use Them
We have all been taught that ‘oil and water do not mix’. However, the rules are made to be broken in art and water soluble paints are rebellious on the scene. But, your smart mind is probably still thinking, “How can oil pigments be soluble in water?”
The answer is this: The oil vehicle has been modified to make it soluble in water, eliminating the need for white spirit or other dangerous solvents to thin paint and clean brushes and other supplies.
There are still some paint purists who wonder if these pigments are true oils, but I assure you they are. In fact, I have successfully executed my paintings using water soluble oils with professional results for over 10 years. I smoothly transitioned from acrylics to new oils in my home studio so my family and pets weren’t exposed to toxic fumes. With an open mind and a little time experimenting, you can also enjoy the benefits of water-soluble oils. Below I will do my best to inform you about this remarkable painting from my own personal experience and with a little help from the technically informative book, “Painting with Water Soluble Oils” by Sean Dye.
Facts:
- The water soluble oil offers greater comfort and greater accessibility. Especially for people with allergies, home studies, students, schools, and those who have avoided oils due to toxic solvents.
- Water soluble oils smell great, just like traditional oils!
- Flaxseed oil is contained in both new and traditional oils.
- Water soluble oils are real oils. They can be mixed with water, not water-based.
- The new oils were developed to be used with water instead of turpentine, mineral spirits, or other solvents.
- Vegetable drying oils have been restructured into water soluble oils that eliminate yellowing.
- Like traditional oils, water-soluble oils must be dried by oxidation, absorbing oxygen through the air. Once dry, they are like any other oil paint and should be treated as such.
- Like traditional oils, water soluble oil paints cannot be reactivated with water when dry.
- New water-miscible media have been developed for water-soluble oils: quick-drying media (my favorite), carrier oils, paint and filling media, linseed oils, and alkyd media.
- Oil paints and traditional media can be added to new oils in small amounts of up to 20% -30% and still retain water solubility. Small amounts of traditional oil color can be added to these new paints which affect color or consistency.
- The new pigments mix and mix extremely well.
- When new oils are mixed with water, it can sometimes appear cloudy until the water evaporates. Although I have read this complaint, it has not been my experience with these oils.
- Quick-drying media allows for a long time to mix, but still makes overpainting easier and faster.
- Clear and luminous enamels can be made using the water mixable media. Rich, opaque darks are easy to pull off.
- The water-miscible linseed oil medium makes the new oil more transparent.
- A brush loaded with traditional oils extends much further than a brush loaded with water soluble oils. This does not affect the look of the finished piece, only the actual painting process.
- Water soluble paints produce a fresh, bright and strong color. It is easier to avoid making a “cloudy” color.
- The new oils are easier to clean.
- Those with limited or no experience with traditional oils adapt more quickly to water-soluble oils.
- Depending on the thickness of paint, water soluble oils retain their elasticity and workability for up to 48 hours.
- The new oils lack the glossy appearance of traditional oils, but a final varnish is a quick way to reproduce the shine of traditional oils.
Advice:
- Take care when drying your freshly painted new or traditional oil paintings. Avoid dark or damp areas to prevent flaxseed oil from browning or yellowing.
- Water soluble oil paints are perfect for travel, especially on airplanes. Many airlines restrict traditional and flammable solvents on commercial flights. Eliminating the need for strong solvents makes water soluble oils easy to pack for painting on site, whether by car, plane or horse.
- The plein air painter can keep the paint on the palette for long periods of time without the paint drying out. However, finished paints dry faster than traditional oil paints, making these new paints even more desirable to the outdoor painter.
- Last summer, I used water soluble oils during my outdoor painting workshop in France. I painted on canvases that made my studies of Provence light and easy to pack for travel. In the past, I have also used 300lb watercolor paper with two coats of plaster.
- Acrylic plaster should be used as a starting base for water soluble paints to ensure proper adhesion. For studio work, I prefer to paint on hardboard or Masonite panels for a smooth, rigid support, but sometimes I use canvas and linen.
- Pork bristles are good for paints, but don’t let them sit in water or they will become mushy. I often use synthetic bristle brushes for large areas. For fine work, synthetic watercolor brushes work well.
- The new oils will remain soluble in water after these specific media are used. That said, I have found that it is best not to mix water with the medium because using water makes the medium sticky and the paint does not flow as easily. When I start to add the oil medium, I generally abandon the water, except for cleaning the brush between color or temperature changes.
- A few drops of linseed oil on the palette restores the paintings to their original functional form.
- All oil paint should be applied with grease on the lean to prevent cracking.
- Use water to dilute the new oils to place in washes. Build up oily coats after bottom paint is dry. The new oils will remain water soluble after the specific water mixable media is used.
- As with standard oils, the new paints can be laid in many thin, smooth coats, called indirect painting or it can be applied in a thick wet single coat called direct gold painting alla prima or everything else in between.
- Drying time is longer when a lot of Naples yellow or white pigment is used.
- Dark passages in water soluble oils sometimes “sink” and lack the glossy look of a traditional oil painting. This is easily remedied with a final varnish.
- I prefer Grumbacher’s Max Artists Oil Colors and Windsor & Newton’s Artisan Water Mixable Oils. The characteristics of these brands are consistent with their traditional oil-based counterparts. They both use all the traditional pigments in their lines, including cadmium and cobalt. These paintings offer bright and luminous clear glazes and rich and mysterious opaque passages to my work.
- Holbein’s Duo Aqua Oil has a fairly firm consistency that makes them ideal for painting with a spatula straight from the tube. Van Gosh H2Oils have a smoother consistency that is similar to acrylic paint. They are perfect for detail work without the need to add media. However, for spatula work, medium filling is recommended.
- I use non-toxic Natural Turpenoid on hard-to-clean brushes; The “Dawn” dish soap does the job. Baby oil is also a good cleanser, followed by soap and water. Afterwards, a little Vaseline conditions the brushes to their original shape.
- Rubbing alcohol and a razor blade keep my glass palette fresh for the next painting session.
Hopefully, you now better understand and appreciate the benefits of water soluble oils. They are easier to use and less intimidating and provide the beautiful results of traditional oils. I encourage you to try them and tell me how they work for you.
