Posted by Dave Gilder 26th 2007 August
Categories: Art & Design
I was told recently that oil paints that can be thinned by water have come on the market has anyone used them if so what are they like and what is the drying time?
Posted by Dave Gilder 26th 2007 August
Categories: Art & Design
I was told recently that oil paints that can be thinned by water have come on the market has anyone used them if so what are they like and what is the drying time?
August 28th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
These have been on the market some time. I have debated whether to use this type of paint.You may be able to find details on other art forums under tips etc. You may even find more info on the manufacturers web pages. Sorry cant help more!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:26 pm
I would be interested in these too. I would like to use oils a bit, but find the drying time a nuisance.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:42 pm
If it is just drying time that is the problem Sue, can I suggest you try Gryffin Alkyd paints by Windsor and Newton (fast drying oil paints) or add liquin to ordinary oil paint to accelerate drying.
I don’t have personal experience of the water-based oil paints but have had good reports of them from those who have used them. Must admit I don’t enjoy using solvents - I usually end up with a headache when I am printing even though I have an extractor fan. So I will give the water-based oils a try in the future.
All the best.
September 2nd, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I think I might venture into oils again. There are similarities with acrylics, which I like very much, and people who use them seem to be very enthusiastic. I might look into the paints you suggested, Jo. Perhaps when I have saved up my pocket money! That’s the trouble- it’s so expensive buying a whole new lot of paints. I don’t want to highjack the conversation, but have any of you bought paints on line for a more reasonable price than High Street art supplies? Or, to return to the original conversation, seen anywhere where you can buy the water based oils?
May God bless you all.
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:02 pm
I buy online from Great Art and the Society for All Artists. Best bargains are from Cass Art - there is a convenient shop near the rear of the National Portrait Gallery and I can’t resist popping in every time I visit London. I am fairly sure that they have the water-based oils and they do sell Griffin Alkyd paint and liquin.
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I will certainly remember that next time I’m in London. Thanks.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:07 am
I contacted Cass Art and this is what they said about oil paint thinned by water.
Winsor & Newton website will give full details of the product, with colour charts wherever possible. The paint is of a higher quality than student, but does not have as wide a range of colours as artist quality, and so is limited to two series rather than four.
We currently stock Winsor & Newton Artisan Artists Water Mixable Oil Colour as follows
http://www.winsornewton.com/catalogue/index.php
page 22/ 141
37ml
Series 1 RRP £3.40 Cass Art Price £2.95
Series 2 RRP £4.45 Cass Art Price £3.25
200ml
Series 1 RRP £10.99 Cass Art Price £9.95
October 19th, 2007 at 5:58 am
As to solvent smell, I do large oil paintings in medium / glazing techniques and now use Oderless Solvents and mediums (Made by Archival- who also make a water based range) exclusively with excellent success. They dry in my lounge room so my family has to live with it also.
Russell
December 10th, 2007 at 12:42 am
I find the water soluable oils fantastic to use. I live on a yacht so drying time is a preimun for I have little space to dry them. They blend as well as oils but find that a medium is need to get a good thickness when dealing with my abstact work.They still have an oily smell but this does not linger. Also there is time to work the paint before drying. To me they are a good bridge between oils and acyrlics.
December 15th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I’m allergic to trad oils and tried Grumbacher water soluble oils about eight years ago, I didn’t get on well with them, didn’t seem as jewel like as the oils I’d experienced, but I believe things have moved on a lot since then. I’ve since moved into acrylics, which took some getting into. For large canvas’s they sometimes dry to quick, but with a little retarder they can be taylored to the size of the work. now I really enjoy using them. I’d like to give the alkyds a try when I find time, and the odourless Archival range sounds interesting too.
January 4th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I just recently switched to water-based oil paints - WIndsor and Newton’s “Artisan” line - and found the results dreadful as compared to regular oil paint. Firstly, I had heard, after I purchased a very expensive set of these, that the Windsor and Newton line is a bit thicker than other brands of water-based oil. This, however, this wasn’t the only problem I was experiencing (flattening thick brush strokes). I tend to paint in a very classical style and found that, if I thinned the paint to the consistency wherein I was able to paint without “glopping it up”, I would have to wait at least 3 days before applying another coat of detail over the thinner coat and that, if it was thinned even a tad too much, it would start to blotch making it impossible to blend colors in a consistent manner. I’m selling my unused tubes and going back to good old fashioned oils. I’d rather be patient with a good painting and wait for it to dry than get immediate gratification from something that has no connection with the classical conception of oil painting. That, however, only applies to my style of work. If you paint with thick, broad strokes and aren’t doing detail work, maybe you should try it. It does dry much faster.
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I would have to agree with Shawn B. from above, however I am forced to use them none the less because I’m painting in my bedroom. If you can start in acrylic, move then to water-oils, finally finish them outside using paint thinner instead of water you have a solution I’ve found. However, if you have the space/workroom stick with trad. oils or plain acrylics for loose work.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
First time on this site and am Interested in the comments above on oil paints.
Windsor and Newton ‘Artisan’ paints. They also have ‘Artisan’ linseed oil, stand oil, fast drying medium, oil painting medium and impasto medium.
Jacksons catalogue (www.jacksonart.co.uk) says it is a genuine oil colour which can be thinned with water and cleaned with soap and water. It is made from modified linseed oil and safflower oil. I have am looking to buy my own set of oils now and have only thus far used ‘Artisan’ in my small number of paintings. However, I thought they were terrific and I was delighted with the colour and feel. My paintings included a 3/4 pose of a celebrity in the style of Tamara de Lempika (green dress - white gloves) a portrait of Pierre Luigi Carlotti and a horse and hound scene in the style of Albert Gleizes - the Hunt. By adding the linseed or stand oil I get a full gloss finish.
Jacksons also sells Duo-Aqua Oils by Holbein. It says these are genuine oil colour at a profesional grade. Can be used traditionally if artist does not wish to work with water.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hi. I can no longer tolerate the harmul fumes from the turpentine and other toxic stuff involved with oil painting. I’ve tried the water based oils, and they seem like a substitue, but man theres nothing like those old smelly oils, but I really do get ill now from the solvents. Does anyone know if the odorless thinners are safe, or are the poisonous vapors simply undetectable?