Water Mixable Oils for Impressionist Landscape Painting: Viable or Not?

How do water mixable oils stack up when painting an impressionist landscape? In this video, we'll dive deep into the debate surrounding water mixable oils, exploring their performance compared to traditional oils in creating a light-filled, vibrant landscape.
✅Your FREE Course: art.malcolmdewey.art/FreeCourse
🎨I'll showcase my techniques for using linseed oil as a medium with water mixable oils, demonstrating their saturation, workability, and overall vibrancy in achieving a loose, impressionistic style. Direct broken color and a loose approach to painting are used bring to life a stunning landscape filled with light and atmosphere.
📷Get the reference photo here (free course): art.malcolmdewey.art/PaintOn
Opinions among artists may vary, but I believe that water mixable oils have their own unique qualities that make them perfectly suitable alongside traditional oils. Watch this video to see for yourself how water mixable oils perform in the hands of an impressionist painter, and make your own informed decision about their place in your artistic practice.
🎨 Materials:
Art Materials:
- Arches Oil painting paper: amzn.to/3YCLW0Y
- Gouache Paint: amzn.to/3tK9V4K
- Brush Cleaner: amzn.to/462ETmx
- Palette Paper: amzn.to/3PvBG9o
- Color Wheel: amzn.to/3HPYnzP
- Maimer Paints: amzn.to/3DZgFh1
- Rembrandt Oils: amzn.to/3IhJA2m
- Gamblin Artist Oil Colors Introductory Set: amzn.to/2sLyeQh
- Artists' Grade Gamsol Oil Color Size: 1 Liter: amzn.to/2tsbQve
- Oil & Acrylic Paint Brushes Set. 100% Natural Chungking: amzn.to/2QJPs8F
- Palette Knife Painting Set: amzn.to/39Isac6
- Artist Paint Brushes - Top Quality Red Sable : amzn.to/2rU0oYQ
- Brush Cleaner: amzn.to/2QoLN0R
- H-Frame Artist's Easel: amzn.to/2Fn2UtK
- Canvas panels for practice: amzn.to/2Fmuuax

[@kamleshsunak3176]

Thank you Malcolm for this lovely colorful impressionistic painting demo. Great tips for using water mixable oil paints.

[@MalcolmDewey]

You are very welcome

[@Sheena268]

Thank you for that lovely demonstration Malcolm. What a great idea to use these oils when travelling! They certainly look nice and buttery! 😘

[@MalcolmDewey]

Many thanks, yes, handy to have these for travel.

[@dianehocker4365]

Generous and caring from a master artist sharing very clearly with great encouragement for all of us ! Thanks so much, Malcolm~~ Loveyour work and the level of detail you use.

[@MalcolmDewey]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@user-ib7mp3vp6h]

Great demo Malcolm. Thankyou! Glad you enjoyed using my favourite paints. I think your Impressionistic style, thick paint shows them off well. Sometimes I'm thinking: when is he going to stop?! Lol. End result always looks good though. 👍 🎉

[@MalcolmDewey]

😄Thanks again!

[@albertbenson4669]

Hi and thank you for your time with this demo good clear info lovely painting

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thanks so much 😊

[@rowenapires9787]

The result is pleasing…and your paintings are all very good!

[@dorryrice6797]

M always amazed at what you start with and what a lovely painting you end up with!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you so much!

[@yelenafurer541]

What a brave painting! Strokes with no traditional colors, your talent, your style created the beauty. Thank you for the demo!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you so much!

[@howardripley4627]

Thank you Malcolm, very interesting medium and it look like it mixes very smoothly and it doesn’t get muddy!! I will have to try it out next!!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Enjoy!

[@user-eq2cw2db7h]

Excellent job,I love how you paint, 🖌️❤️. From Frances uk

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you very much!

[@mona2242]

Thanks Malcolm, I could sit and watch you paint forever regardless of which paints you use. ❤However I o lu use water mixable S because of my sensitivity to traditional oils. Looking forward to your next tutorial.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thanks for your support!

[@liezelhaupt7172]

Awesome painting! Thank you for all the tips too. I always wondered about water soluble oils. Now I want them😅

[@MalcolmDewey]

My pleasure 😊

[@curlew-3592]

Lovely Thankyou.😁

[@solweigolsson3114]

Wonderful! Maybe something to try!

[@MalcolmDewey]

absolutely

[@vesnabreskvar9082]

I have seen many of your wonderful video demonstrations and every time i really enjoy watching the magic you create with that big brush (including cows😄) The result is amazing!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you so much 😀 The cows are very loose 😄

[@adrianadebeer4958]

I love this painting so relaxing

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you!

[@terrierose5917]

I took a class years ago, where the teacher insisted on water mixable oils because of toxic turps. They have been sitting in a drawer for years because of lack of knowledge about them. Now I know more about their use, I will definitely use them.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Excellent!

[@NatalyKenny-wz5zw]

Beautiful! Sacred questions: Dark or light? Warm or cool! And paining value shapes, not things! Thank you, Malcolm!❤️❤️❤️

[@MalcolmDewey]

Exactly!

[@dulcieogilvie5786]

Take a deep breath and persist……..good advice !!

[@yourvinestowine2781]

Great lesson. Music lovely…don’t stop it.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you!

[@janealan2142]

I liked the addition of the cows as my problem with still life and country scenes is that they lack life. 😅

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes, they do help a scene.

[@kiritsi100]

Great demo and painting Malcolm. Curious if you've ever tried alkyd oils? I've used them in the past and did enjoy them. Although they do have a little bit stiffer quality, and have a stronger odor. But if used outdoors, it's less of an issue. I like that they dry by the next day. So for traveling it's much easier to transport. Would be great if there was a faster drying water soluble oil paint.

[@MalcolmDewey]

I have not tried them, although I know they are popular with plein air painters who need the quick drying paints. I imagine it is a learning curve if you are used to wet into wet painting. A bit like oils with an acrylic quick dry quality?

[@dianehocker4365]

I'm using Walnut Oil as a medium (Leonardo daVinci apparently used this) and safflower oil for cleaning brushes since my studio is small and windowless.

[@MalcolmDewey]

That will work fine. Do you do a final clean with soap?

[@amilwee]

Beautiful! Would you be able to share a larger picture of the reference photo?

[@MalcolmDewey]

If you can give me an email 👍

[@yeshuaiscomingbackrepent2357]

I use Windsor Newton w/s oils...I do not like the texture of the w/s but the colors are nice. I have never thought to add oil to them, doesn't that make them just like regular oils? Your painting is beautiful.

[@MalcolmDewey]

If the paint needs softening up then linseed oil is the answer for me. Yes that may make that paint repel water if I need to wash the brush in water, but that is never the case during a painting project. I can dissolve muddy paint with a little linseed oil and wipe the brush clean in as much time as it takes with water. Then carry on painting. WM oils are made with linseed oil and pigment. It is the processing that makes it water mixable. A technical term that I forget. Cleaning up at then end remains the same - soap and water.

[@dorryrice6797]

I use the Cobra WMO by Royal Talens in the Netherlands; they are affordable and are artist quality. I use water for my underpainting/blocking. I seldom use a medium, but when I do, Cobra has its Paint Paste which is a gel that is exactly the same ingredients as their paint minus the pigment. They use the same amount of pigment as their Rembrandt oil paints, with which I know you are familiar. I have been using these paints for an almost a year after first starting with Winsor & Newton WMO which are student grade and which I found lacking in both pigment and creaminess.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes, a big fan of Rembrandt so the Cobra is a must for me if I need WM options.

[@dulcieogilvie5786]

I didn’t know you could use linseed oil with water soluble!!!

[@user-dk8xq8fl2w]

Very nice Painting Malcolm. I want to ask One questions can wash brush with water ?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes you can!

[@user-dk8xq8fl2w]

@@MalcolmDewey thanjyou malcolm

[@trishrowe8467]

Hi Malcolm, I enjoyed watching this painting, what paper do you prefer for water mixable oils?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Arches paper for oils is the best I think. Costs a bit though. In this one I am using Fabriano paper for oils. Less cost, but not as good.

[@moni7361]

Hi Malcolm, Do you even need WMOs? You can use normal oil paint and add linseed oil if necessary?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Correct, I have been saying that for a while because there are non-toxic options for everything these days.

[@janinem3280]

Good morning, Malcolm. What is the finish of water-mixables when dry?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Hard to see any difference. Of course once varnished there is no issue.

[@lucb]

Bonsoir , magnifique peinture . Pourriez vous m’indiquer l’huile de lin que vous utilisez. En vous remerciant

[@MalcolmDewey]

Basic refined linseed oil for artists.

[@tetianaabramov]

❤❤❤💯

[@dulcieogilvie5786]

Question. Do the water mixable take long to dry??

[@MalcolmDewey]

Not at all

[@dulcieogilvie5786]

Interesting. I don’t like the solvents but do like oils very much….I think the solvents affect me health-wise…i.e allergy stuff….so I will buy me some water soluble sand then I can relax in my studio (spare bedroom LOL😂)

[@Alexandra-ks7cb]

I don't use solvents but I use regular oils. I mix with a palette knife. Wipe with paper towel between volor change. I just use regular acrylic brushes and wash wish clear dish soap after a session. Alla prima lends itself well to this "method"