water miscibles-dry time....

[ZOTMA]

I've been using the water miscibles and really digging on them. Only problem is I'm having trouble judging the dry time. Any help?

[TheStyle]

Hello ZOTMA...
I tried 3 different water based oils about
1997. I liked the Holbien Co.'s the best.

I found the drying times to vary depending
on the color. One way to determine the "time"
is: Every time you open a tube of paint,
paint a blotch on a different canvas (surface) and monitor it. Keep a record of
color/time and that should help.

Soon you will know the complete formulas
and be painting more efficiently. Make sure
your "blotch" area is the same exact surface
as your actual painting surface so you will get true results.

p.s. I found the average drying time (dry to the touch) to be about 4-5 days.

MichaelB

[ZOTMA]

thank you, that question was hanging in the air for a while (like fish odor in your house). Anyhoo, that's a great idea to just investigate on my own and keep track. The problem I had; it was dry to the touch and yet when I sketched on the canvas (with white 'charcoal'..though that seems an oxymoron when writing it) the color lifted to the pencil. Kinda pissed cause I was sketching and wasn't totally sold on what I was doing. Now I'm kinda committed with that piece. I'll be a bit more careful next time......

[Esben Lund]

I've gone H2Oil all the way.
I'm using the Van Gogh H2Oil mixed with a little of their special linseed oil.
Most of my thin layers will be ready for a second coat the next day and dry in one or 2 days. Impasto takes up to a week to dry.
I also find that adding extra oil increases the drying time by days (surprise! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif ).

I never use water for thinning, I only use the linseed oil. This also means that I ignore the "fat over lean" approach. I read in a book that modern H2Oil is so flexible and sticky that "fat over lean" can be forgotten. Besides, the fatter layers will be glazing and transparent paint layers which are normally the layers put on last.

I went for the H2Oil because I got extremely fed up with the plastic opacity of acrylics, and because I paint in my livingroom. I just couldn't live with paint-thinners all day.

I'm very happy with my watersolubles.
Just remember to buy a mixing medium (special linseed oil) for glazing and thinning the paint.
Most of the Van Goghs are so stiff out of the tube, they're practically useless without thinning.

Only use water for cleaning brushes, NOT for thinning.

If anybody wonder whether the results is the same as oil, it is. I've read stuff about "milky" oils that go transparent when dry. I have experienced none of this. My brushstrokes look the same after drying for weeks.

Go out and try the watersolubles, so we can get a wider range of colors http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

My experience in Van Gogh H2Oil:
1. Don't thin with water
2. Forget the "fat over lean" dogma
3. Buy the special linseed medium for "thinning"

[ZOTMA]

holy cow, thanks Lund.
I really find your info relevant, there's just not a whole lot of info out there as far as I've looked. If you've got links or book suggestions, I'd be interested. Very interesting about fat over lean and ditching it. Did you look up miscible? When I saw the post I was worried you were tearing my spelling a new one. It's there in the dictionary, just means mixable after all. I've used primarily the Max and WN. Those are a bit more like butter (honey butter that is). Thanks again for the tips.

[TheStyle]

Hey water buddies...I'm very sure that the fat over lean rule still applies. If I were you guys, I wouldn't take any chances. You should contact the manufacturer of the paint
u are using and ask to speak to the chemist.

Just because water is the "vehicle" to spread the oil, shouldn't change the fact
that fat layers under thin ones will react any differently than they already do.

MichaelB

The Adventure Continues....

[tammy]

Yes, fat over lean should still apply.

------------------
Don't worry, its gonna be all right....
Tammy's Home for Artists (http://tammy.artistnation.com)

[ZOTMA]

tell you the truth, I think it would be hard to give up the routine so etched in the head. I am looking forward to more information being published. I hope anyhow. Post if you know of any books...etc.

[Esben Lund]

I guess it works for me because I paint fatter over fat http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif
And, I rarely end up with more than 2-3 layers of paint in any one spot on the canvas.