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How to thin water-mixable oils?

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Rhia Janta-Cooper

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Is anyone here using water-mixable oils? You should not use water to thin these oils. It would not be the best practice or result.  OK, some artists use water to thin the paint for underpainting only! That would be OK. But later, I need some liquidity in my paints. So, what to use? Not water! Medium, but which? I have thinner, I have fast-drying medium... Maybe it is enough, but: Has anyone tried Schmincke-Norma Blue Linseed Oil, which is waterthinnable? However, it slows the drying time! :-( Because "fat over lean" is so important, I have a problem with the media, like thinner, etc.

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by Rhia Janta-Cooper

Norrette Moore

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Hi Rhia, Cobra do a glazing medium and W&N do an Artisan Linseed Oil. Although I don't use them much.  Just the Artisan thinner on early layers.
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Rhia Janta-Cooper

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Hi Norrette, I have the Cobra paints, but use Winsor & Newton media (silly).  I'd better take a look at the Cobra Medium (it should be obvious, but I somehow didn't do it).  Thanks for the idea. :-)

Norrette Moore

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Rhia, theres not enough difference to warrant splashing out on more medium, in my view. I've not tried the W&N medium, so I can't make a judgement on it.
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Marjorie Firth

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I’m sure that the mediums will more or less have the same formula… I wouldn’t splash out either. I think ( without checking) that my medium is not Cobra…..

Tessa Gwynne

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I have been using WS oils recently and have some Daniel Smith mixing medium. I mainly use Cobra oils and prefer them to Artisan.  I started on these a few years ago when I went to a weekly class where they were specified for health reasons. We were told at the beginning that the one thing you never use with this type of paint is water so I never have. The only time to use water is for cleaning up after!
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Robert Jones, Napa

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The prohibition on using regular oils is fairly ridiculous; the only genuinely toxic material used with regular oil paint is Turpentine, or some mineral spirits.  As you don't have to use them with regular oils, and as any other medium or paint in water miscibles is no less toxic than those used with regular oils, I fail to see any point in avoiding regular oils for health reasons. It's a good sales gimmick, and that's about it.   There are mediums offered for use with water miscible oils - if you use these paints, those are what you need.