Jan 10 2026
Today is the drawing of this painting. The next step though is going to be the big color test for Water Mixable oils vs traditional oils. I’m going to paint this painting in both. One side of the painting is going to be water mixable oils and the other side is going to be traditional oils. I’m going to keep the paints separate on my palette and use separate brushes as well.
My opinions on water mixable oils so far…
- Watering down the initial layer works really well for drawing on a smooth surface
- Difficult to cover raw paper, just like traditional oils.
- Avoid too much water with them on oil primed surfaces
- The more water I add, I do get a slight value shift.
- It’s super nice to be able to clean out a brush completely
- Some paints are sticky but painting thickly gets rid of that
- Painting thin needs a medium like water to avoid stickiness
- Tinting strength and drying time is questionable with Hues
- Can draw with paint again
- Best of acrylic and oil together
Jan 13 2026
I got this comment on YouTube about water mixable oils and it changed everything.
The comment:
Well, I resolved to start oil painting without solvents or heavy metals – your previous videos on the topic were very helpful! – and I thought WMOs were going to be the key. Then I discovered W&N puts cobalt in all their white oils, including the Artisan range. 😮💨 In the UK market, at least. I’d be interested to see what warning symbols are on your tubes there.
This lead me down a huge rabbit hole of research on water mixable oils. I found this really great article by jacksons art that helped a lot.
Cobalt
“For most artists, if you are applying your paint with brushes or palette knives, it isn’t necessary. Cobalt compounds used in artist paints are insoluble, so they are not readily absorbed through the skin. However, two cobalt pigments (Cobalt Violet, PV14 and Cobalt Zinc Silicate, PB74) are skin sensitising and may trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals. Between 1 and 3% of the population have a cobalt allergy, so speak to a doctor if you believe this affects you. They will be able to advise if you should use cobalt pigments or not. “
“According to the ECHA, certain cobalt pigments are respiratory sensitising (PB28 and PG19) and may irritate the respiratory tract if inhaled and could trigger an allergic response. For this reason, it is not recommended to use cobalt-containing paints for airbrushing techniques without protective equipment. However, when using these pigments in a readymade paint the pigment particles are contained within a binder and cannot be inhaled unless sprayed. “
Clean painter? You’re good.
Messy painter? Be very careful!
Cadmium
“There is widespread agreement across regulating bodies that cadmium compounds are carcinogenic, and there is evidence that they may be mutagenic and toxic to reproductive health. For this reason, their use in industry is highly regulated and their place in artist paints has been a topic of conversation and controversy for over a decade. “
In the environment
“They concluded that the impact of artist paints is minimal, especially compared to other sources like mineral fertilisers (even the run-off from car washes is a greater contributor). Additionally, the cadmium compounds used in artist paints are insoluble and have very low bioavailability. A 2016 study looked at the solubility of cadmium artist pigments over time and found that they did not lead to an increase of bioavailable cadmium in agricultural soil.“
Disposal
- Avoid washing your brushes directly in the sink. Wipe off the excess paint onto rags or paper towels. Then, clean your brushes in a container of water or oil painting solvent. Let the paint residue settle to the bottom (you can pour off the clear solvent or water to use again).
- Avoid disposing of paint sludge, used solvent, or any rags or paper towels in your regular rubbish bin. Put your waste in a sealed, sturdy container and clearly label it.
- Contact your local waste disposal service to find out where you can safely dispose of waste containing cadmium and cobalt in your area.
“Like all chemicals we use in our day-to-day lives, from laundry detergent to household cleaning products, artist paints and the pigments they contain can cause harm if they are mishandled. However, it is important to consider the risks in context, and in the context of a responsible art practice cobalt and cadmium pigments pose little risk.
It ultimately comes down to choice. Many painters find cadmium and cobalt pigments invaluable, while others choose not to use them in their practice. The beauty of the modern palette is that there is so much choice, and artists can make an informed decision about what is best for them”
Jan 28 2026
First session painting with both water mixable oils and traditional oils. I’m super happy to say that the working properties between both of them are super close and I don’t feel any significant differences.
Water mixable oils are a bit more “chunky” ; they build up impasto a tiny bit easier and do have a bit more texture than the traditional oils which are smoother.
Of course this could be brand related but the difference is barely noticeable.
I have no problem reaching the colors I want in both paints but I did have to mix the cadmium red and yellow hues with vermillion and naples yellow light to get super high saturation with the opacity I need. But that was just a positive in my book. The ability to take these hues that are very transparent and mix them with non cadmium alternatives to get the saturation I want and the opacity.
Maybe the cost of extra paints is the bad part here. But, this kind of intensity in color is barely seen in many places in real life.
I tried the paint thinner from Windsor and Newton that was supposed to be a replacement for water and didn’t like it. It thinned out the paint well and it didn’t get sticky like with water but I don’t like the texture.
The texture it created though could be good in some circumstances. I still have to try this tinner with the beginning of the painting drawing out with paint so I think it may work really well for that.
I also left this thinner out overnight to see how fast it dries. I would hate to have to purchase this thinner all the time and carry it with me. I’d rather just use water to draw out my painting if that is the case.
I want to make my setup super simple where I need the least amount of materials and setup and all the focus and time can just be painting and creation.
Jan 29 2026
At this point it was all about finishing the painting and combining all that I discovered about the comparison between water mixable oils and traditional oils.
The test with both paints on the same painting was amazing and taught me so much about water mixable oils.
I have a full blog post go over all the details of water mixable oils here.
