Using Water-Soluble Oil Paint
There is nothing more enjoyable than to lose yourself in a beautiful oil painting that you are creating as you allow it to take you into another time or expresses emotions that hide deep within you. But, if you are allergic to or can’t stand the smell of the oil paint your experience won’t be that pleasant.
There is now another alternative for the smell and the clean-up that is inherent when painting with oil paints. Water-soluble oil paints don’t have the irritating odor and they clean up with soap and water. The concept is similar to the egg and oil tempera paint but the molecular structure has been altered so that the oil can be mixed with water (who says oil and water don’t mix).
Some artists are skeptical and still prefer the traditional oil paint. Many say that the water-soluble oil paints aren’t as good and misses the mark when the artist wants the traditional oil painting look. Others say there is no difference except in the clean up and can produce a painting that is just as beautiful with either medium.
Definition
So what exactly are water-soluble oil paints? They are made from the same pigments and linseed oil as regular oil paint but they are water-miscible and they dry faster than traditional oil paint.
Uses
Water-soluble oil paint can be used just like oil paints. It can be thickly applied as when using the impasto technique with the brushstrokes being retained just as with regular oil or thinly applied as when using watercolors and it doesn’t bleed into the other colors when applied. When thinning water-soluble oils with water mix up the color you want first then add the water rather than adding the water to the pigment until the color you want appears. The color will get darker as it dries so it’s important to be aware of this (Willard, 1998).
Some brands can be mixed with oil up to a 70:30 ratio to retain it’s water soluble value, but other manufacturers warn the artist not to mix the water-soluble oil with traditional oil paints. Therefore, it is very important to check with the manufacturers’ directions to determine if the water-soluble paint you are using is the type that can be mixed with the tradition oil. There are certain formulas that can be used for each method.
Water-soluble oil paint dries faster than oil; usually within 24 hours at which time, if the artists chooses, it can also be applied on top of the layer that is already dried. Thick layers typically dry about four times faster than standard oil paints. Varnish can be applied usually after 6 months.
Longevity
Because water-soluble oils have not been around too long it’s difficult to determine from experience how long the finished product will last with this medium. Whether the paintings will last as long as the Old Masters paintings is yet to be seen. But even those have to be restored periodically.
Reference:
Willard, C. (May, 1998). Water-soluble oils. American Artist, v62 n670 p16(4).
