Hi Philadelphia Painter, I've been painting with Artisan Watermixable oils since '02. I like them very much. Easy cleanup and I love the creamy consistency of the Artisan especially over other brands. (Some are very stiff.) I've used them plein air painting and in my studio. Haven't noticed any difference in handling between them and traditional oils. Drying time might be a little bit shorter, but on the second painting I did with the Artisans in 2002, I used a water mixable medium to glaze over an area and I swear it took over 12 months (!) for the glaze to finally dry. I was so freaked out that I didn't even varnish the painting until last year for fear that it wasn't really dry. But overall, I've been very pleased with the results. Hope this helps. Are you using them now?
I use Artisan water mixable oils, and have no real complaints. I used them because I live in a small apartment and my wife cannot stand the smell of turps. However recently I have been using standard oil paints and walnut oil, no turps, and actually prefer the feel of regular oils. Also a much better range of colours.
I just got the large box of Rembrandt oils and am having a bad reaction( my eyes are badly irritated) to the Gamsol thinner(I think) I'm using. How have the water miscible oils been for odor, reaction.
I haven't used the Artisan water mixable oils but have used Max (Grumbacher) water mixable since the '90s and haven't ever turned back...nor regreting doing so. I have had no problems with them except finding them anywhere except via internet or catalogs.
No odors, no solvents needed. I use the painter soap type cakes to clean up brushes and find no trouble with them either.
I would say the traditional hog hair brushes work fine but the synthetic brushes made for the water mixable oils are much better responding to long use.
You can't see the difference in the finished product either. I do use a retouch varnish during the painting process when things dry a little too soon, and you do need to apply the traditional choices of final varnish once the painting has dried the recommended length of time.
I too have used both Artisan & Max for over 15 years and love them. You can thin them right out & speed up drying time (like water colors or acrylics) for detail work or lay them on impasto or wet on wet much like traditional oils. There is also an additive for slowing the dry time. I work on stretch canvas. They are by far the best.
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