Comments on: WATER BASED OIL PAINTS

By: Austin Palmer-Smith

Austin Palmer-Smith — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:18:44 +0000

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?

By: Tony R

Tony R — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:03:23 +0000

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.

By: Wayne H.

Wayne H. — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:59:38 +0000

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.

By: Shawn B

Shawn B — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:18:34 +0000

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.

By: Kat Farmer

Kat Farmer — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:42:31 +0000

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.

By: Tui Taylor

Tui Taylor — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 23:42:41 +0000

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.

By: Russell McKane

Russell McKane — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:58:26 +0000

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

By: Dave Gilder

Dave Gilder — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:07:52 +0000

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

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:06:15 +0000

I will certainly remember that next time I’m in London. Thanks.

By: Joseph J Field

Joseph J Field — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:02:13 +0000

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.