Advice for Water Mixable Oil Painting Classes

You shouldn’t have any issues here Linda… I don’t use water miscible oils myself, much preferring the traditional oils and I also paint using watercolour (both examples can be found on my gallery on this site) Best idea is to plunge straight in, videos are fine, to an extent, but more fun working it out for yourself… that’s my view, and you won’t find them difficult. You only need around 6 colours to get you started, and a few brushes, although of course you can use your watercolour brushes if you wanted… But probably better to get some new ones! There are a couple or so of artists who paint using water miscible oils, so you should get some useful tips hopefully!

I use them most of the time.  I would suggest the Cobra brand as their pigments are stronger than Windsor & Newton, who manufacture students grade ( the price isn't that much different). I also use ordinary oil paints on occasion, the main difference is the make up of the oil base. So far I haven't found much in the way of online courses for oils, although I haven't explored outside of further education establishments as yet. I'm mostly self taught through books, starting with the step by step type of edition, then moving on from there. I'd recommend the book option. Oils are so much easier to blend than acrylics, which I tried as an intermediate step.  Although Golden have produced a sub brand called "Open" - wondering if anyone on here has tried them?

I agree with using Cobra rather than Winsor and Newton; the latter just don't have the pigment load.  If it's the "water" bit that appeals to you, though, I would suggest you don't use water with the paint - only to help clean it up at the end of a day's painting.  They have their own mediums, e.g. modified Linseed Oil, and you'd probably be better advised to use them: you CAN use water, but might find it ... well, watery!    If you're drawn to them because you're nervous of solvents, like Turpentine or White Spirit, well there's no actual need to use solvents with regular oil paint: full disclosure, I sometimes do use Turps when beginning a painting, but, especially if you're working alla prima - wet in wet, in other words, rather than in layers - then you can use Linseed oil (just not too much of it) in its place: people will warn you about "fat over lean", but without jumping into an off-topic controversy, most of us don't need to worry about that: Denise Cat does, because she sometimes works in multi-layers, but unless you do too, or seek to, that's a worry you can lay to one side. That leaves you with only one real advantage of water miscibles, well two if you count easy clean-up; and that's cost.  Water miscible oil paint is generally cheaper than conventional oil; Cobra is more expensive than W & N; I don't remember how much Grumbacher w-m's are going for, another brand you might look at.  When starting out, it will be cheaper to acquire a basic palette of water miscible oils than conventional ones, but then - why is that?  It's generally because they use cheaper pigments.   So, in conclusion (it takes me a while to get there...): go for the most pigment-rich brand you can find; bear in mind you'll have to buy modified oil and other mediums as well as the paint; see if you can find any books or videos by the late Murray Ince, whom many of us will remember - he used and was an ambassador for W & N's Artisan range, and it's undeniable that he produced some fine paintings with them; and finally - Alan's right: if you've decided these may be the paints for you, equip yourself with a dozen or so colours (including white), get a few boards or pads, and jump right in (just don't risk your watercolour brushes with them).    If you find them unsatisfactory, you can always switch to "normal" oil paint later.  Or - and/or - alkyds.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDXBjfSKrzo There were two Murray Inces - one was born in 1806, and not being that old, he's not the man I knew. The other Murray, who added the names William Cole between his first and last names, can be seen in the above video link, and there are several more where that came from; most of these demos are in Artisan paint, which he first of all used because solvents were incompatible with his asthma; but he didn't need to use solvents, as I told him!  He'd got used to Artisan by then; and also had a commercial link with them.  Murray died in 2023 after a short illness - he had become a professional artist, conducting classes and painting trips: and he's much missed. 

Look up Max Hale and water miscibles on this site ( I took his advice when buying them ( Cobra ) and Steve Strode. They are not meant to be diluted with water as you paint but with water to clean up afterwards. Cobra are more pigment rich. I bought them to use “ en plein air”. However, I don’t use them now, prefer trad oils. That’s not to say they’re not effective, I have a few paintings where I would challenge you to tell the difference between the two.

I used them for a few years because I went to a class where the tutor stipulated them for health reasons. I also reverted to normal oils and much prefer them, though both have their own advantages. Cobra are the best.