Water-Mixable Oil Paint: A Solvent-Free Revolution

Water-mixable (or water-soluble) oil paints are a modern evolution of traditional oils.

Unlike conventional oils, which require harmful solvents like turpentine or white spirit for thinning and cleanup, water-soluble oil paints are both non-toxic and specially engineered to be thinned and cleaned up with nothing but ordinary water.

A game-changer for health, safety, environmental impact and accessibility, whether you’re working a small studio, shared classroom or at home, water-mixable oils offer the same luxurious feel and rich texture of oil paints, all without exposing yourself or your workspace to hazardous chemicals or VOCs.

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How Do Water-Mixable Oil Paints Work and Why Are They Solvent-Free?

Traditionally, when working in oils, an artist would have to keep several different potentially hazardous chemicals on standby for mixing, blending and even cleaning.

Specially formulated to act as a non-toxic alternative, water-mixable oil paints are made using an emulsified, partially hydrophilic oil medium designed to loosely bond with water, creating a unique structure capable of accepting water as a solvent.

Able to be blended, smoothed, thinned or even cleaned using simple water whilst retaining the core recognisable characteristics of oil paints, water-mixable oils offer a solvent-free, easy-to-use range of colours ideal for use at home, in school or in shared workspaces.

Interestingly, “tempera grassa”, which is a technique combining egg tempera with oil, is often noted as a historical precursor to these versatile paints.

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How Do Water-Mixable Oils Handle Compared to Traditional Oils?

Whilst almost all traditional oil painting techniques apply to water-mixable oils, the handling experience can differ dependent on the level of water used during application:

Thin Application
When heavy diluted, water-mixable oils behave similarly to watercolours, making them ideal for light washes or underpainting techniques.  Be warned, over-thinning can affect or reduce adhesion, so balance is key.

Medium Consistency
At a midrange dilution, water-mixable oils take on a gouache-like feel, offering both transparency and a slight body.  Do note, much like watercolour, some colours may darken when drying, especially if more water is used.

Thick Impasto
When minimally diluted (or used straight from the tube), the consistency of water-mixable oils will be somewhat tackier and gummier than you may be used to from conventional, buttery oils.  Regardless, they offer beautiful impasto effects and textured brush strokes.

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