Water-mixable oil paints are designed to thin and clean up with water, so they're a good option if you want to paint with oils but avoid working with solvents. Every artist will have their own preferred brand of water mixable oil paints, based on things such as color range, availability, and price, but don't stick with a brand simply because it was the first you bought. I recommend doing a
paint comparison test of a similar color in various brands to see how you feel about each.
Photo ©2011 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.Holbein Duo Aqua Oil Colors are formulated to be diluted with water and to dry faster than traditional oils.
Duo Aqua is the only brand which says it can be mixed with acrylics, watercolor and gouache as well as with traditional oil paint. It's this versatility which puts it first on this list. As with other brands, once you mix it with about a third of traditional oil paint, it'll no longer be water soluble. Range of 100 colors. Mediums include quick-drying and glazing.
Reader Gary S says:
"Holbein's Duo Aqua is buttery and indistinguishable from standard oil paint. If Duo Aqua paints were universally available, I think many more artists would have favorable opinions of water-soluble oils."
Photo ©2011 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.Cobra water-mixable oil paints are produced by Royal Talens. 70 colors available, including 32 single-pigment colors. (
Cobra Color Chart). Glazing and impasto mediums. (Cobra was previously branded Van Gogh H2Oil.)
I've found Royal Talens wipes and washes from a brush really easily with water -- great for cleaning up. There's practically no smell from the paint.
Image: ©2007 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, IncThe water-mixable oil paints produced by Winsor & Newton are branded Artisan. There are 40 colors available, priced in two series (W&N color chart). Artisan can be mixed with traditional oil paint, or painted on top of acrylics. W&N advise against mixing it with acrylic paint. Mediums include fast-drying, glazing, and impasto.
I asked W&N where they'd place Artisan, and was told: "Purely based on the high grade of raw materials Artisan could be considered an artists' grade, however, the inclusions of hues and the shorter palette [colors available] means that Artisan can in fact be considered somewhere between an artists' and students' grade and is therefore priced accordingly."
I've not used Artisan much, but have found it seems stickier from the tube than most other paints.
Grumbacher Max is made from the same pigments and linseed oil as Grumbacher's traditional, professional oil paints, and drying times are similar. Available in 60 colors. Can be mixed with traditional oil paint and mediums. Quick-drying and linseed oil mediums.
Berlin is a brand of water-mixable oil paint produced by Lukas, with drying time comparable to Lukas' oil paints. There are 24 colors available (
Lukas color chart)
sOil is produced by
Martin/F Weber Co, which produces
Bob Ross oil paints. Around 30 colors available. Drying time is slightly faster than traditional oils.
If you fancy the idea of water-soluble oil paint and want to try it without spending very much, consider a small set of Reeves' water mixable oils. Then if you like it, you can upgrade.
