I tested water mixable oils against real oils

Do you want to paint with oils, but want to avoid solvents? Recently I tested water mixable oils against real oils. Are they worth it? How do they perform? Are they "real" oils? I'll share what I'm testing, my plein air setup and my top 5 takeaways.
If you're looking for a solvent-free solution to oil painting, This might be the answer you've been looking for. If you've got any tips from your own experience, please share in the comments.
#solventfreeoilpainting #watermixableoilpaint #watersolubleoils #oilpainting
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// MATERIALS USED IN THIS VIDEO
Brushes: various brushes from Princeton Brush, including Aspen, Catalyst and Velvetouch (amzn.to/456CpUs)
Paint: Cobra Water Mixable Oils (amzn.to/4emY8M1)
Medium: Cobra Quick Drying Medium (amzn.to/3VEF0Sp)
Pochade box: Alla Prima Pochade (allaprimapochade.com)
// LINKS
My website: laynejohnson.com
Free workshop: laynejohnson.com/workshop
Instagram: / laynejohnsonstudio
Facebook: / laynejohnsonstudio
TicToc: / laynejohnsonstudio
// CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:25 Testing criteria
02:09 My plein air setup and supplies
05:57 Testing - Day 1
13:39 Testing - Day 2
16:02 Top 5 takeaways
NOTE: This description may contain affiliate links to products I enjoy using myself. Should you choose to use these links, this channel may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support!

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

To learn more about my approach to painting landscapes, start with my FREE 1-hour workshop: *Secrets to Painting Beautiful, Realistic Landscapes* ▶ laynejohnson.com/workshop

[@scripturaltruth7636]

I have been test driving the Cobra's also and got a good tip from another artist. I put a drop of walnut oil in each color on the palette and my dry time has been 2 to 3 days which is great

[@JPPoilpaintingsNL]

For those of you who don't know: Cobra (CoBrA) was the name of an avant-garde art movement founded in 1948. CoBrA stands for Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam. Thanks for the demo, Layne.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thank you as well! I did not know that. 👍

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@LayneJohnsonStudio Interesting, I only thought it was a venomous snake! ;D

[@duncanhewitt6557]

I have seen a solo exhibition of karel appel in Amsterdam.

[@cherylnewman4383]

I love my water mixables, and like you. Tried another brand and didn't like the, so I went back to traditional oils and acrylics until i found Cobra. I now only use water mixable instead of oils, even though they are oils. I have since tried other good brands since they came in but still prefer Cobra. They are beautiful and buttery. And blend beautifully. Thank you for your demonstration.

[@ronschlorff7089]

yup, like any type of media you have to shop around to get a good one that you like.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

You're very welcome - and thanks for your feedback on Cobra!

[@bessiemcgaughey6717]

I have used water soluble oils for years. I use Grumbacher and Artisan because those are what I bought my son years ago. I found Lukas Berlin from Jerry's Artarama and gave them a try. Their low priced but the consistency is buttery and I love that. I can't use solvents because of allergies, but I loved painting with oils so tried the water soluble ones. I love mine and I tried mixing water with them and they did not work with that at all. I use Linseed oil to mix with mine. I paint with Acrylics and water colours also but for a different type of painting. But for landscapes on canvas I use oils. Thank you for your review of the water soluble oils. God speed and keep painting.

[@Catbooks]

I picked up a few of the Lukas Berlin from Jerry's recently because they were on sale and I was curious. Haven't tried them out yet. Good to know they're buttery. Try using a half linseed, half water mixture for your medium in the early layers. Adding the linseed to the water makes all the difference!

[@nowotny1207]

LOVE my Cobra water mixable oils!!! They are so creamy and blend beautifully. I only use the Quick Dry when I am doing a color study in a sketchbook. I use either Windsor & Newton Artisan linseed or safflower oil (depending upon the substrate) as a medium. WN artisan also has a thinner that I use as a mineral spirit. Charlie Hunter uses water with Cobra WM oils as a mixing medium quite successfully. If using water as a medium, the substrate matters. You cannot use oil primed canvas/linen. Sadly Royal Talens/Cobra does not make some colors I.e. Viridian. More manufacturers are creating their version of water mixable oils - Daniel Smith, Holbein, Lucas etc and they make some of those “missing” colors. Some of those brands are just as good as Cobra in my opinion. Water mixable oils can be used in conjunction with traditional oils as long as the ratio of water mixable to traditional does exceed 30% traditional to Water mixable oils. (I think that is the ratio. - check with manufacturer for exact amounts). So if you are wanting to transition from traditional to water mixable oils, you can do it incrementally and not throw away all your current oils. My biggest reason for using water mixable oils is the cleanup. Soap and water is all you need - No solvents. The big difference is that Cobra Water mixable oils are “real” oils but have an emulsifier incorporated into the mixture making it play nice with water.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Awesome - thanks for your feedback. I do need to try some of the other brands, too.

[@shivaasrari8854]

I have been using water mixable oil for past five years. Love it. Yes brand makes it difference.I use Lukas is very creamy like traditional oil. Also i use medium not water. Thanks for your informative video 😊

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Excellent! I've got one tube of Lukas, need to get several more colors so I can test those as well. Thanks for the tip!

[@anita-qq9iw]

Thanks for the tips, I have asthma, and although I love painting with oils they always affect my health. Loved the painting by the way, always admire artist who can paint such realistic grasses.

[@VPM205]

Layne, thank you. This is definitely interesting due to the safety and solvents healthily issues.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

You're very welcome!

[@homayounazarnoush5699]

Excellent idea, thank you so much for sharing your experience 🌸

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@soniabrickell4268]

Amazing tutorial so well portrayed. Straight to the point and very matter of fact . Thank you so much . Your art is wonderful, your clouds wow how do you do that 😮😊

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks very much!

[@TimothyJohnLukeSmithPSA]

Thank you Layne, this was the first truly coherent review of the water mixable oil colors. Great painting by the way.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks very much! Appreciate that.

[@lindahaines6277]

Loved the little box you demonstrated. Here in New Zealand I love using SCHMINCKE NORMA BLUE Brand Water-mixable Oils. Makes brushes so easy to clean using Water-mixable Oils. 🙂

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks for sharing!

[@acaccholi]

Great demo, I’ll give them a try!

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Awesome!

[@tejpalsingh881]

I have been using different brands of water mixable oils for the past few years. Used liquin or water as medium but, thanks to your video, i now realise I shouldn’t be using water as the medium.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

I didn't use Liquin when I tested them, but I plan to the next time since that's what I normally use. Thanks!

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi Layne - your recent experiences echo my own. I think water mixable oils offer a great way for folks to get into oils without the hassle of thinners and solvents. - Happy Painting - Paul 😃😃😎😎

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Exactly! Thanks Paul.

[@velvetbees]

Thank you!!!

[@Catbooks]

Did you try thinning out the Cobra with just water? In my experience they don't gum up like W&N tends to. That said, what I use most is a mixture of water and water-mixable linseed oil for my medium for early layers, then straight to the linseed for later layers. I've been using them for about a year, coming from an oils background and not wanting to use solvents anymore. Love that you can clean of your brushes with water as you're painting.

[@wizard1sj]

Hi Layne. I enjoy your videos. My experience with Water Mixable Oils has been very positive. And yes, I do mix with water and a medium, depending on the effect I'm after. Having also painted with Acrylics and Oils, I have found that , once again, they work great, depending on the effect I'm after. I have painted portraits. cityscapes, landscapes and seascapes with equal success in either of the 3 mediums. Traditional Oils are , of course, Traditional. Acrylics and Water Mixable Oils are more modern mediums. For me, it's more a matter of what effect I want in a painting as well as the amount of time I'm looking to put into the painting that decides which medium I use. All are equally good. My motto-- Just keep on painting. You get better each day.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Awesome! And couldn't agree more... just keep on painting!

[@wayneconard2685]

I’ve used Cobra brand for the past year or so and my experience is the same as yours. These are excellent oil paints that behave like traditional oils and brushes are easily cleaned with soap and water. Great paint.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Agreed!

[@trappedindc8678]

Love Alla Prima Pochade boxes. Ben is a GENIUS…love Cobra water “cleanables” too.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Agree!

[@Beologe]

this was very informative :) thanks a lot

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

You're very welcome!

[@LoriWoodward-gd5fl]

I’ve been painting with Cobra for many years. Like you, I don’t mix them with water but with medium instead. They have a new thinner medium which works like solvent for thinner initial layers. Thanks for this video Layne, It was interesting to watch and the painting is beautiful.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks for the info. Which thinner medium is that? I'd like to look into that one, too.

[@LoriWoodward-gd5fl]

@@LayneJohnsonStudio It’s the new Cobra Thinner medium. It came out a couple months ago. It is the least fat of all the Cobra mediums. I use it instead of water to tone the canvas and put in the first “wash”. I believe it can be sued just like Gamsol for the first layer.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

@@LoriWoodward-gd5fl Thanks!

[@AndyWalkerArt]

I've only ever used Cobra water-mixable oils (I didn't start with traditional oils) and I love them. I do use water to thin them, but only at the drawing or blocking in stage, and then use them neat for the rest of the painting. I wish more artists would use them!

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

I'm with you. I started painting with acrylics for a couple of years, then switched over to Cobra water-mixable oils and have never used the traditional oils. That being said, if you have a favor color that's only in a traditional oil brand, you can still use that mixed in with the Cobra and still clean your brushes with just soap and water. I will also add that you can use any medium with them too. I often use Liquin with mine.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Yes, I think when I paint with them again, I plan to use water at the imprimatura stage then afterwards no water other than rinsing.

[@jeanettemccracken7736]

I've been using water mixable oils for some time now and are really happy with the results.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Great to hear!

[@user-yp7vf5lo8h]

Thank you for sharing your experience. You mentioned the fast-dryjng medium, so did yneed solvent to clean the brush because of the medium? The no.1 reason I'm interested in water-mixable oils is I don't need to use solvent. Thank you.

[@ronschlorff7089]

I have used all media for years including water mixable oils, Max from Grumbacher. I found them convenient when traveling abroad, since it is difficult to get the right solvents and media in some places. And even if you can't/shouldn't drink the water you can use it to paint there, LOL ;D. And when painting in Europe say, you are usually not there to make a "masterpiece", but to gather information. The other choices being watercolor or acrylic or gouache, all good too for sketches on site at your destinations. My "gripe" with them and it may just be a band thing was they were weakish and lacked the vibrancy I'm use to with oils, which I use constantly now being a plein air and studio landscape painter here in the southwest (Tucson) where any water media dry quickly. As for mediums I use the solvent free gel from Gamlin, being used with traditional oils. For those of you "afraid of solvents", maybe oil painting is not for you, just like sky diving is not for me either, LOL :D. Thanks.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks Ron! Happily, there seem to be more and more options now days.

[@KrstnaSchroeder]

thanks layne, i will definitely be sticking to my beloved gamblin oils!

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

In the studio, me too! But for traveling or en plein air water-mixables work great.

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@LayneJohnsonStudio true for traveling, plein air maybe, but that is usually what you are doing with travel to painting sites anyway, right? Funny story, I had a friend who water-colored, and we were painting in the Lake Tahoe area. So, I told him to advertise his work as being "painted with actual Lake Tahoe water"! ....Then they "sold like hot cakes"!! LOL ;D

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

@@ronschlorff7089 🤣🤣

[@svalbardsvalbard4231]

After many years of using oils I started with water mixable colours and I am very happy since they make life much easier when you travel or in the fields. I have the recommended solvent which I hardly use because in my way of painting I use the colours straight from the tube . I use Georgian because they are the only one that make the small tubes with 20 ml all the others make only 37 ml. When one travels or in the fields one has a small paint box and the big tubes do not fit unless one uses the “ 3 colours” system. Did you find other makers which also make small tubes ? Thank you.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

That's a great point. No, I haven't seen any others (yet) who make the smaller tubes. How do you like the Georgian water mixable oils? I haven't tried those yet.

[@Aur315]

Yah they are the same: I paint with them only now for years ! That’s why I started paintings . I tried traditional many times and I would get headaches and the fumes smelled to me: ever since water soluble I have not had any problems. Also I don’t use water with it to paint, only a medium, but to clean my brushes only. I use Winsor and newton bc they sell the 200ml tubes at Jerry artarama; they feel really nice. Have you tried those and is cobra better ?

[@svalbardsvalbard4231]

I find them very good . No difference when compared with“ real“ oils. Keep the good work going !

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Awesome!

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@LayneJohnsonStudio Yes, and most water mixable oils makers say they can be used "traditionally" as well. A plus for "versatility"!

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

@@ronschlorff7089 Absolutely!

[@veetoe251]

I haven't used water miscibles in a few years. But, what I do remember is that the ones I used , I think winsor and grumbacher, they get lighter when you mix water into them. Because of the chemical I think that allows emulsification. So, they almost have the same problem with value that acrylics have. So, as you said, don't use water to thin as you would thinner with regular oils. But, as I said, it's been a hot minute since my last foray into them.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Something_in_the_Forest]

Nice

[@0001sam1]

i use holbien's duo aqua my only problem with them is that some of the colors are unavailable in my country.. so i use now regular oils sans the turpentine which i find somewhat better than acrylics

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

👍

[@markkoenning-ok8dt]

I've had good luck with Golden Open acrylics. They stay wet for weeks on the palette and dry in about 12 hrs on the canvas. I have wanted to try the Cobra water mixable oils to compare. Thank you for the information!

[@molambird]

weeks to dry on a open palette? do you live in a very humid area?

[@markkoenning-ok8dt]

@@molambird I live in central Texas, averages about 50 percent humidity. I've had them stay wet on an open palette for about two and a half weeks before starting to tack up. In a closed palette (non wet) I've had them stay wet for months. In fact I have some on my closed palette now that's going on three months and still wet. They're just starting to tack up but still very usable. I'm really amazed myself that they stay wet as long as they do.

[@molambird]

@@markkoenning-ok8dt very interesting, thx for the infos!

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

You're very welcome!

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@molambird when I painted, doing wildlife subjects in the studio, years ago, I used acrylics, great for the subjects for details in fur and feathers but drying was a problem. I ate a lot of "Lean Cuisine" then, for a reason having nothing to do with the "food", LOL. They came in neat little plastic dishes with a tight cover, which I used as my palettes, and then placed them in the fridge, to last a little longer. Wives did not like that much though!! LOL ;D

[@RJD1308]

I have used Grumbacher Max water miscible oils, they say not to use water as a medium, only for cleaning. I have been moving back to traditional oils, I don't use solvents and clean my brushes with soap and water just fine.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

👍

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

Great pochade box - someone has really worked on the design of it; wonder if it's available in the UK. Water-miscible oils - less impressed, but in fairness I've not used Cobra. Given I rarely use solvents, I don't really see the point of water-miscibles. And watching you paint .... I don't think I'd like the fluidity; though you might prefer that for wet-in-wet.... I'll just have to try them myself one day: perhaps someone reading this will buy me a set! Ho ho.....

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

👍

[@joycemorrell1293]

They seem to have improved since I last tried them. Maybe I will give them another try.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Like I said, I think there can be a lot of difference between brands. So try something different, you never know!

[@bobgorski5326]

I've been using the winsor-Newton brand of WS Oils, and I'll try the Cobra brand to see how they compare. Is the medium a walnut medium variety?

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

It's Cobra's slow drying medium. (Not sure if it's walnut or not.) There's a link up in the description.

[@blueluckylon]

Helpful video…

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Thanks!

[@richardlewis1257]

I've used Cobra paints for years and love them.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Awesome!

[@ronschlorff7089]

Am I the only one here who finds this "safe to use", non-solvent, non-toxic oil paint's name amusing? A Cobra is a deadly venomous snake, who's bite, upon injecting a highly toxic poison, often kills any victim. However, the paint brand is designed not to kill you, ...allegedly!! LOL :D

[@luisgabrielx]

Maestro muy buenos sus artes, de verdad quiero aprender de su tecnica ya que a mi me encantan los paisajes de nuces con naturaleza......soy pintor de acrilico pero quiero mudarme al oleo

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Awesome! Give Cobra water mixable oil paints a try. 👍

[@ArtByAnobel]

I am looking forward to trying it. When i use acrylic i tend to use slow drying or a retarding medium but I can’t wait to try this to see if this is the blending answer I am looking for. TY @LayneJohnsonStudio

[@anitalaudermilch8295]

Thank you Layne for his video. I started with water mixable oils about 6 years go, but kept hearing about the buttery feel of regular oils and switched to them. I have used both on some paintings to use up the water mixable paints. So far they seem to work well together.

[@daanvaessen7723]

Hey Layne, thanks for the great video. I’m currently thinking about maybe trying out these water based oils. I have a question regarding the medium you’re using. Is this medium also solvent free? Kind regards

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Yes, it is. According to Royal Talens (who makes this brand), it's "based on vegetable oils, synthetic resins and a siccative".

[@daanvaessen7723]

Thanks for the info! I will check them out then

[@ronschlorff7089]

try solvent free gels from Gamblin, made in Portland Oregon, they are easy to use and to "overuse" too!! ;D

[@CindyCones]

What colors are you testing on this video? please. Cobra brand

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Yes, Cobra brand: titanium white, burnt sienna, Van Dyke brown, ultramarine blue, cobalt, permanent yellow light, vermilion, and pyrrole red deep

[@MerrittW]

Have used water washable oils for a decade now mostly Cobra & Windsor & Newton they mix with each other well if required I wouldn't go back to the spirit method for anyones money!

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Cool!

[@marcjeffers4229]

Don't like using solvents? Use mineral oil to clean your brushes and use a soft rag or paper towel to wipe them off. Never use soap and water on your brushes.

[@LayneJohnsonStudio]

Wiping is really the best option. 👌