What are Georgian Watermixable Oils?

Oil painting has long been valued for its depth of colour, blending ability, and rich surface quality. Water mixable oils offer those same characteristics while simplifying the painting process by removing the need for traditional solvents.

Water mixable oils are genuine oil paints made with modified drying oils that allow them to mix with water. This means artists can thin paint and clean brushes using water instead of solvents such as turpentine or white spirit.

Despite this difference, they still dry through oxidation just like traditional oil colours, forming a durable paint film with the same permanence and richness associated with oil painting.

For artists familiar with conventional oils, the painting experience remains very similar. Water mixable oils provide:

• A smooth, buttery consistency

• Strong pigmentation and colour depth

• Slow drying times that allow for blending and reworking

• The ability to work in thin layers or thick impasto

The key difference lies in how the paints are handled in the studio. Water can be used for thinning during the early stages of painting and for cleaning brushes, making the process simpler and more convenient.

Artist Stephanie K. Kane transitioned from traditional oil painting to Georgian Oil Colours and Georgian Water Mixable Oil Colours to see how the experience compared.

After making the switch, she noticed several practical differences in her painting process:

• A creamy texture when mixing the paint with water

• Slightly more resistance on the canvas compared to traditional oil

• A more vibrant colour palette

• Faster washing up and cleaning without turpentine

• No stains left on clothes or hands

• No smell from white spirits or turpentine

• A painting process that feels friendlier to both skin and the environment

For many artists, these kinds of changes can make a significant difference to how and where they choose to paint.