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Welcome to my very first blog post! Today, I'm excited to talk about a revolutionary new(ish) medium in the world of oil painting: water mixable oils. For many years, oil painting has been associated with the use of harsh solvents and chemicals, which can be dangerous and require special ventilation. However, with the introduction of water mixable oils, artists no longer have to rely on these toxic substances to create stunning works of art. They have been around for nearly 20 years, but it's only been as recently as 5 years ago that they started to become more well known. Water mixable oils are just like traditional oils, but they can be thinned and cleaned up with water rather than solvents (some will argue that thinning them out with water isn't the done thing and to stick with traditional thinners, but others disagree entirely). This means that artists can enjoy the rich, buttery consistency and vibrant colors of oils, but without the harsh fumes and chemicals. These oils also dry slower than acrylics which allows artists to work on the painting for longer periods of time. One of the biggest advantages of water mixable oils is that they make oil painting more accessible to a wider range of artists. Artists who may have been hesitant to try oil painting due to the chemicals and solvents can now explore this medium with greater ease. Additionally, water mixable oils are also more environmentally friendly, making them a great choice for artists who are concerned about their impact on the planet. I first picked up a set for my 30th birthday. This was during lockdown, I was 4 months pregnant and itching to get back into painting. I had wanted to use oil paints but I wasn't keen on taking any chances with my pregnancy, and to be honest the clean up is a pure hassle! My attention was caught on a shop website using the term 'water mixable' in the oil paint section and I was curious as to how anything oil based could work with water. I did my research, watched a few tutorials and was convinced that this was the compromise that I was after! In terms of techniques, water mixable oils can be used in the same way as traditional oils, and they can be applied using brush, palette knife, or finger (still best to use gloves), you can also mix them with traditional oils. This means that artists can continue to use their favourite techniques and styles, while enjoying the benefits of water mixable oils. However, do your research on mixing ratios because after a certain amount of traditional oils are mixed in, you can no longer use water for clean up! I can tell you that my first experience using this medium was a revelation to me! The blending abilities are what I can only describe as yummy! They last for up to 2 days on your canvas before you start to see them drying out, perfect if you are busy like me and are in and out of the studio on any given day! The texture is indeed buttery and fantastic to push around. My focus was on portraits and using water mixable oils to produce soft looking skin is a dream! The only downside that I have come across is that there isn't as wide a range of colours available compared to traditional oils and acrylics. This helped my art practise so much though as I invested time learning how to mix colours properly...and that's another blog post in itself! In conclusion, water mixable oils are a game-changer for the world of oil painting. They offer the same rich and vibrant colors as traditional oils, but without the harsh chemicals and solvents. They also make oil painting more accessible to a wider range of artists, and are more environmentally friendly. I hope you'll consider giving water mixable oils a try in your next painting and let me know your thoughts.