From the article: Best 7 Brands of Water Mixable Oil Paints
Do you have a favorite brand of water mixable oil paints and, if so, what is it about it that makes it so special? Or do you use a few brands, buying more by price than anything else? Share your experiences and reasons for using the water mixable oil paints you do. What Water Mixable Oil?
W & N
- I've used Artisan for some time now. I find them quite satisfactory. The colour choice is somewhat limited though. I plan on trying other brands as well, so I have more options as to colour and consistency.
- —Guest Anne
Don't Ignore The Cobra
- I love Holbein's Duo, except for the price; Royal Talens Cobra reports and feels to be of similar high quality at a more reasonable price. I am beginning to suspect the out-of-the-tube consistency is actually better than Duo!
- —Guest Dessand
Cobra Water Mixable
- Cobra brings the richest brush strokes and easiest form to work with out of all the water mixable oils. Excellent pigmentation and quality.
- —Guest Jacob
Duo-Aqua
- I've used Duo-Aqua, Max and Artisan. Artisan is the worst of the three in my opinion, almost a solid lump in some colors, but you can make it usable by mixing with water miscible safflower oil. It softens up nicely, but do you really want to have to remix all your paint? My favorite is Duo-Aqua, creamier and nice.
- —Guest Grammanita
Water mixable oils
- Holbein Duo Aqua is the best, by far. I work wet in wet and like to do a lot of smooth blending. I wonder if different painting styles are better suited to different brands? I know that WN Artisan has never worked for me.
- —Guest Rene Arreola
Turning Oil Paint into Water Soluable
- I did so, with Dawn liquid, in 1986 on a European painting trip. They dried slower but after 25 years they are still like new. Bubbles? Yes, if you brush too vigorously. I would not use a liquid soap or detergent for serious paintings but I used it because we traveled by air and no solvents were allowed on the flight. Clean-up was important to me....so I could keep messes to a minimum. Oil sketches were what I created and now two friends each own one of them. They report that the detailed oil sketches are still in excellent shape. It is important, though, to use a CLEAR liquid soap....not one that you cannot see through. I thank you for the opportunity to give my opinion. I am a professional artist and teacher.
- —Guest paintpiddlerdlux
Dislike Water Oils
- Gunk and slime. I don't want to be fiddling around with CONSISTENCY when I'm in the throes of painting. Breaks my concentration.
- —Guest Three tonz
W N + Duo
- I keep a full range of both in my studio (don't waste your time with MAX). It's true that W&N Artisan is often too stiff and sticky, but you do get used to this. I prefer the Duo in most situations, because it is richer and creamier, strong colours and closer to the classic buttery feel. However, when you thin Duo with water it will lighten a bit, in the same way that acrylic paint does. I think it has to do with emulsions scattering light, and it means a significant darkening once the water has evaporated out. A bit of a pain in the ass matching colours. So I use both, Duo for direct work, W&N if I know it will be thin and washy. The only product I would recommend from the MAX line is their Liquin-like water-mix alkyd in a tube, product #591 I believe (I think there's a more fluid jar version too, but I haven't tried that). Anyway, it's SO MUCH better than the equivalent W&N product, though a bit tricky to find in the shops.
- —Guest Topo
W N
- I was ready to give up on water mixable oils until I read the article on the paint. I was using Artisan which was a huge disappointment. I will switch to Duo or Max and see what happens. Oil is the only medium I can work with to get the results I am looking for. Thank you for the info.
- —Guest Patricia47
DuoAqua The Only Oil You'll Ever Need
- Because W&N Artisan is everywhere, and most artists trust the Winsor & Newton name, when an artist decides to try water mixable oils for the first time, Artisan is their likely choice. Unfortunately, the Artisan line consists of thick, sticky paint with lower pigment concentration than would be acceptable to most professionals.... My experience with them has led me to classify them as the worst-made water mixable oil paint line on the market today. I fear that over availability of the Artisan products and poor first impression this Artisan product is providing has created a large group of oil painters who feel the water mixable concept has been a failure. I know for a fact that having had my first impression created by Holbein's Duo Aqua led me to form a very high opinion of the water mixable concept. Holbein's insistence is on using only professional oils and the highest pigment concentrations.
- —Guest Gary S
Duo Water Mixable OIl
- Tried them all and liked Holbein's Duo the best: fully saturated colors, good flow, two to three days dry time. Other brands stiff and unresponsive, especially Max.
- —Guest Edgar Coudal
W&N Artisan
- I've used the Artisan colors from W&N for about a year. They are great.
- —Guest Kamenart
Fantastic
- I have been using the Winsor and Newton water soluble oils for several years. I think that they're fantastic.
- —Guest Robert Sadler
W&N and Others
- I did tried Winsor Newton brand and found them to be too thick. I would try either Grumbacher's Max or the Holbein Duo. My friend uses the Duo brand and is very pleased with the results -- very rich color.
- —Guest Artman54
W&N and Others
- I use Winsor and Newton, plus a few others as additions.
- —Guest Michael9
