Adventures in Paint & Pastel

Hi Sharon. I ran across your name in search for other Plein air painters in my area, I'm in Shelby. Then I realized after filling my membership I FO out for GLPS that this is where I saw your name before! Small world. I'm new to painting, only two years in so far, and I recently bought Holbein WMOs. My problem is, being new to oils in general and only trying WMOs, I cannot for the life of me find much information for an artist new to the medium. I've found when mixing WandN who medium into the paint that adding water can cause a strange reaction.
I also have found that cleaning brushes is difficult and found myself going to the OMS to clean the brushes in a jiffy. I wondered what I was doing wrong.
I started out in watercolor three years ago taking local college classes, and then last year really got into trying many different things. After a mixed media class using charcoal acrylic, pastel I fell in love with pastels and it has taken me by storm. I have just bought all of my equipment to begin Plein air painting and also have become a member of. the Michigan Plein Air Painters group.
If you could recommend any good basic teaching in oil painting with WMO I would appreciate some information. There really aren't any books on it yet that I can find.

I just wanted to update my experience with the Holbein water mixable oils.

I stated above, the problems that occurred for me but now after trying again wanted to clarify. My problem happened while using fast drug medium and an off brand student grade color that I did not have with my Holbein set. When I eliminated the off brand, and did not use fast drying medium, I found a huge difference. I'm very new to oils, of any kind, and have some experience with watercolor, and acrylics. Oil painting, has a feel of its own, with a bit of drag that I wasn't used to. And the wet on wet painting can be an issue for me especially when trying to get more detail.

I want to master oil painting and pastel, and look forward to learning under Sharon's tutelage!

Thanks Mary. I enjoy working with a safer alternative too. I'll have to check out the Berlin Lukas brand. For a creamy consistency though, nothing seems to compare to Cobra, so I'm looking forward to trying more of them. Happy painting!

Hi Sharon,
I came back to retread this blog. I have begun using the Holbein mediums including the fast drying. What I have found is to NEVER use any water with fast drying medium because there's some kind of reaction. I did find this a lot with the Windsor And Newton brand and left those mediums behind. But the Holbein media,s are much easier to work with. I have also found that reds cadmiums in particular take a much longer time to dry.

I'd like to know, have you fully switched over to a cobra and how are you liking them, having painted with more of the colors?
It seems that the teacher above likes them a lot, but they are very expensive.

My friend wanted me to try knife painting with him last summer. I did a couple that looked awful, but I was freaking over the amount of paint I was going through. He works in turp oils, and uses a much cheaper brand.

Thank you for the nice article. I enjoy using the water soluble oils. Just got the Duo (Holbein) and martin/Weber. The grumbacher seemed to be too thick. Same with Windsor newton. Trying to find good pigmented paints and improve my technique. I am copying this article to take to my instructor who is a purist when it comes to oil paints, she is open to learning with me! Thanks again. Happy painting! Lois Merrill

Can you explain more about fat over lean?

I'm going to give a go at some water mixables: Holbein Aqua Duo and Lukas Berlin.
I'll try to post my results. I know they are at extreme price points but I wanted to try the Lukas Berlin because of the economy and the fact some people on YouTube are giving them great marks, good reviews.
I have done a bit of research and that's how I found this thread - though it's a bit older now I thought I should follow up.
I do think from what research I've done that I will only use WM thinners and oils, no water, except to cleanup.
For cleaning up I'll try using Murphey's oil soap or hand dish soap. I ordered fast-dry medium but now after reading all of this I may only use if I can't get back soon enough for wet on wet... as for example blocking in before being away from my work for a couple days. Otherwise perhaps from what I'm reading here the paint is gooey-tacky for a day or two and unworkable.... perhaps even unwieldy the same day if in the sun???

Hi Sharon, I stumbled upon your website while searching for water soluble conversions of color. Your post on W/S oils is from 2015 but a relevant beginning evaluation of these wonderful paints. My allergies had often kept me out of my Mom's studio. She was a portrait and landscape artist. I desperately wanted to move on from acrylics and learn from her. After my Mom's lung cancer, it made me more determined to learn how to use these paints which we eventually shared. Perhaps it would be helpful to update this thread for your students and followers. I've been on a similar journey with some different recommendations due to the passage of time. Traditional oils are a long standing gold standard for oils. But solvents and other chemicals can create significant health risks. Having these new oils which are just traditional oils plus an emulsifier allows for many of us to use oils. After speaking with other W/S oil artists and the many companies' chemists, the rejection of these paints by some are often based on lack of information and misinformation on how to use them. Most of these oils are indeed water cleanup only. The proprietary emulsifiers definitely make a difference. I have found that using water with many brands contributes to them becoming sticky and gummy. Winsor Newton, which is school grade, finally made a "thinner" as their solvent for their paints. I use Holbein Duo and Cobra, both artist oils, which are fully compatible and can successfully use water mixed well with their paints as a solvent replacement. Daniel Smith claims that their paints are artist grade as well and are water mixable as a solvent replacement as well. They only offer hues for their heavy metal paints but they claim they are fully pigmented. Those paints will be tested shortly. I have also tested mediums. Interestingly I have found that all brands' mediums including Duo and Cobra except for their linseed oil (which yellows), yielded sticky results. MGraham walnut oil and walnut oil with alkyd for faster drying and Gamblin Solvent free gel or fluid all are acceptable mediums which are odorless and are not sticky. I generally pick one medium or both walnut oils throughout a painting. Fat over lean of course applies. Water in early stages used for toning canvas, blocking in forms and underpainting are the lean steps and generally dry quicker via the evaporation of water. Later steps are straight from tube and the addition of the suggested mediums. Straight oil for glazing is last. I also looked through your website and was delighted by your beautiful, richly colored work. You embrace life in your paintings with vigor, vibrancy and happiness. They make me feel good. Thank you for that. Wish I lived closer to be able to enjoy learning from you. I would love to know what colors you use on your palette.

I have found Grumbacher MAX paints to be excellent quality. However, I don't use water with water-soluble oils. I use Turpenoid Natural to clean brushes. It is supposed to be non-toxic. I also like Holbein's DUO range because it offers a real Cobalt Violet Light.