Discover Jackson's Aqua Oil Colour as artist Barry Freeman uses them to paint scenes of the South Downs.
What are water-mixable oil paints?
Water-mixable oil paint can be diluted or cleaned using water, instead of solvents, which is used with traditional oils. These paints are perfect for painters who enjoy the buttery feel of oil paint, but are either allergic to it or can't use the solvents, such as white spirit or turpentine, needed to thin the paints. You can use water-mixable oils just as you would traditional oil paints.
So how is it possible that oils can be diluted in water?
Water-mixable oil paints are genuine oil paints, that have been modified to allow it to be water-soluble. The paint dries through dehydration and how long the paint takes to dry will depend on the thickness of the paint film. Although water-mixable, they can't be mixed with acrylics or ordinary oil paint, but you can mix different brands of water-mixable oils.
The colours
All the illustrations in this article were painted from sketches made on site, and I used oil sketching paper and heavy weight cartridge paper.
My palette consisted of I used Jackson’s Aqua Oil Colours:
- French ultramarine
- Cerulean blue
- Cadmium yellow
- Naples yellow
- Lemon yellow
- Magenta
- Cadmium red
- Yellow ochre
- Raw umber
- Titanium buff
- Titanium white
The pigmentation of Jackson’s Aqua Oil Colours is extremely good and a little goes a long way, with the added bonus that the paint comes in a large tube size of 56ml.
To view Jackson's range of 48 Aqua Oil Colours, visit their website.
Painting with Jackson’s Aqua Oil Colours
Cocking Down, Jackson’s Aqua Oil Colour, (40.5x51cm)
The majority of the Downs are on chalk, which can be clearly seen in the path that runs from the bottom to the tree in the middle of the picture.
This is the only illustration that wasn't painted on oil sketching paper – I used cartridge paper instead. Normally, I would've primed the paper first, but with water-mixable oils it wasn't necessary, as the oil doesn't leach through to the back.
Applying and cleaning water-mixable oils
When water-mixable oils first came on to the market they had a treacly feel to them and they became slightly thick if left unused for a couple of days, but there has been a vast improvement in consistency. You can paint on exactly the same grounds and supports as you would normal oil paint, and preparation of surfaces is also the same.
In the studio, I use a large sheet of white plastic as a palette and at the end of a painting session, I clean the mixing area with a sponge and household soap. If left for a couple of days, it is best to use water, wire wool and soap.
To clean my brushes, I rinse them in water then rub them over soap, working out excess paint between my fingers, and finally rinse again in water.
Top tip - It's very important to clean with soap as paint residue left on the brush will eventually damage the bristles.
Using Jackson's Aqua Oil Colours
River Ouse at Southease, Jackson’s Aqua Oil Colour, (28x38cm)
At the eastern edge of the Downs near the village of Rodmell, this is the area of the Downs that I visited most when l lived in London. The view from Southease sees the escarpment of the Downs rising above Iford and Rodmell. I tried to keep the illustration sketch-like with the aim of achieving atmosphere rather than exactness.
Downs at Itchenor, Jackson’s Aqua Oil Colour, (28x38cm)
Here the Downs are viewed from Itchenor, at Chichester Harbour, looking across the warm colouring of the foreshore to the turquoise green of the water (it really was this colour), past the mid-distance and finally to the sweep of the Downs themselves. Although they do not look quite as majestic when seen from this aspect, their intrinsic beauty is clearly evident.
It was a mixed weather day when I sketched, with both cloud and sun. I was surprised when I saw the colour of the water but it contrasted so well with the foreshore and the grey-greens and buffs of the Downs. Just as I was finishing the sketch a swathe of cloud passed over, which gave it the final touch.
Final thoughts
For me, water-mixable oils are one of the best developments in the field of art materials. Because these paints have so much going for them, I strongly suggest that anyone who has not yet used them should give them a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Try Jackson's Aqua Oil Colours for yourself - view the full range on their website here.
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Want to discover more with water-mixable oils? Follow this step-by-step tutorial by Paulette Farrell of how to paint sports figures using water-mixable oils.