Water-Soluble Oil Paints for Artists

Garden City artist Nancy Wernersbach paints lovely oils and watercolors. She can’t tolerate turpentine or any kind of mineral spirits solvents when doing her oil paintings due to allergies. Wernersbach is not the only artist who has this problem.

So what is an artist to do?

Within the last several years paint manufacturers have eliminated the need for hazardous solvents with the promotion of just what artists need: water-soluble oil paints. They are traditional oil paints with slightly-altered chemistry that allows the paints to be thinned and cleaned with water. However, they contain linseed oil like regular oils have, so once dry they remain solid and cannot be diluted again. The tubes themselves contain no water.

Manufacturers have responded to the “green” movement and increased allergies by developing these paints. They have tested them for many properties that artists need such as adhesion to canvas or board, flexibility, color strength and other things. Conservation departments are testing them too, so as to guarantee the paint will last as long as conventional oils.

There are several oil paint manufacturers who now sell the water- mixable oils. One of the first was Grumbacher with the “Max” series, which comes in a range 60 colors. Another one is from Winsor & Newton called “Artisan Water-Mixable Oil Colours” with 40 colors.

“Duo Aqua Oils” are from Holbein and have a selection of 100 colors. Four additional lines are “Cobra Water Mixable Oil Colors” by Royal Talens with 70 colors, Weber “wOil Water-Mixable Artists Oil Colors” (note “w” in front of the word Oil), Lukas “Water-Mixable Oil Paints” and Reeves “Water-Mixable Oils.”

“Holbein is the only brand to use in my opinion. Winsor & Newton and Grumbacher are thick, sticky and don’t flow evenly and made me miserable," said Wernersbach. "Holbein Duo Aqua Oils is closest to the feel of oil paint. The mediums also help it to flow better…They dry a little quicker than regular oils, except for the white. They work great for me.”

Garden City resident Mary Jane Caldwell, a retired art teacher who taught in Hicksville High School, said, “As a teacher I used water-based oil paints in the classroom because I had no choice ... I found the colors to be just as brilliant … There are some disadvantages such as the drying factor,” referring to the fact that they dry faster than conventional oil paints.

Water-mixable oils “are an excellent compromise that satisfies OSHA, colleagues’ sensitivity to turpentine odors and other realistic health concerns that come along with traditional oil paints. There are some credible complaints that the water-soluble oil paint has a different texture when wet, goes on differently (the spread is awkward) and water is a thin solvent versus the more viscous oil and linseed," said Thomas Germano, Nassau Community College art professor.

"As for me in my studio, I would not consider substituting the ‘real’ oil paint for the new water soluble oils. I have proper ventilation, properly cover my turpentine can to avoid absorption into the air and I properly dispose of the waste material … I agree with Holbein being the best. I’ve tried them all … Another brand, ‘Van Gogh’ is good too.  ‘Artisan’ is the one my students buy because of affordability and accessibility.”

Vivian Hershfield added, “…The mixing texture is different. Oil is like butter. Water-based oil is just more liquid and does not move the same way as oils.”

Water-soluble oil paints may create a safer painting environment for all artists but there are complaints that they do not have the exact same characteristics of traditional oil paints.

Visit the following websites for additional information: www.GrumbacherArt.com, www.WinsorNewton.com and www.HolbeinHK.com.