Water-Mixable Oils

Water-mixable oil paints offer all the qualities of traditional oils rich pigments, buttery consistency, long drying times but with one remarkable difference, there is no need for solvents!

This book will encourage and inspire beginners and provide them with all the skills and knowledge they need to produce successful oil paintings. It starts with an introduction to the medium, and explains what water-mixable oils are. This introduction is followed by several sections on materials, preparation (how to care for your brushes, storing your paints, and so on), colour (selecting your basic, or capsule, palette), mixing the paints and preparing your surfaces. The first project explains how to explore colour in order to paint in the style of Vincent van Gogh.

There are then five longer projects that touch upon the themes of abstraction, still life, landscapes, buildings, and working from a photograph, all of which capitalize on the rich qualities of the paints. 

Each project is accompanied by a clear list of materials needed as well as top tips and skills practised; Sarah also interjects with useful anecdotes and words of wisdom garnered from her experience working in this vibrant and exciting medium.

At the end of the book, the reader discovers how best to store and transport finished paintings, especially if the paint is still tacky to the touch, and how to frame a painting for impact.

Book Contents

Introduction 6
The qualities of water-mixable oils 8

Materials and tools 10
The paints 10
Brushes 12
Application tools 14
Surfaces 16
A space in which to work 20
Easels 22
From the studio 24
Maintenance of your materials 26

Colours and mixes 30
Mixing colours 32
Mixing the paints 35

Mark-making 40
Brushes 40
Other tools 42

Seeing things differently 43

Projects 46
Exploring colour 46
Painting from a photo 54
Painting an abstract 64
Still life 78
Landscape 90
Buildings 102

Troubleshooting 116

Aftercare 120
Storing your paintings 120
Transporting your paintings 121
Using a mount to crop your paintings 122
Frames 123

Glossary 126

Index 128