Close Modal
Wish List 0 Wish List 0
Download high-resolution image

Water-Mixable Oils

A beginners guide to painting in this vibrant medium

Author Sarah Wimperis
Paperback
$23.95 US
Search Press
8.63"W x 11.06"H x 0.9"D   | 19 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Jun 27, 2023 | 128 Pages | 9781782218579
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
Full cover
Author
TOC
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Discover the numerous merits of working with water-mixable oil paints in this accessible beginner's guide. Water-mixable oils are more environmentally friendly and easy to use for artists of all skill levels.

Water-mixable oil paints offer a simple and easy way into the world of oil painting. They offer all the qualities of traditional oils – rich pigments, buttery consistency, long drying times and the ability to change and evolve as you paint – but with one big difference, there is no requirement for solvents or other mediums.

The aim of the book is to encourage and inspire beginners and to provide them with all the skills and knowledge they need to produce successful oil paintings. It starts with an introduction to the medium, and explains what water-mixable oils are and why they offer a good alternative to conventional oil paints. This introduction is followed by several sections on materials, preparation (getting your space ready, how to care for your brushes, storage of paints, etc.), color (selecting your basic palette), mixing the paints and preparing your surfaces. The first demonstration explains how to explore colour to paint in the style of Vincent van Gogh.

There are then five longer projects that guide the reader through an entire painting from start to finish, on themes such as abstraction, still life, landscapes, buildings and working from a photograph. The projects are designed for success, which fosters confidence and encourages practice, which in turn makes people into enthusiastic, happy painters!
Each project will be accompanied by a clear list of materials needed as well as top tips and skills practised; Sarah also interjects with useful anecdotes and words of wisdom garnered from her experience working in this vibrant and exciting medium.

At the end of the book, the reader discovers how best to store and transport finished paintings, especially if the paint is still tacky to the touch, and how to crop a painting for greatest impact.
Art Book Review - Jan 2024
Water-mixable oils have been around for quite a while now. I first encountered them a good many years ago when Pelikan Mastercolor appeared on the scene – it doesn’t seem to be available now. For all that the idea isn’t new, I can’t remember a whole book being devoted to the medium. To be fair, the method of working is pretty similar to conventional oils or acrylics, so that’s hardly surprising.
The medium’s main advantage is being odour-free, making it user-friendly in an environment shared with non-painters. It’s also quicker to dry and requires less messy cleaning up so, basically, a virtuous circle.
All of this makes using the water-mixable (they’re not actually soluble) variant of oils ideal for the beginner or someone who wants to experiment with the medium. Yes, you could just use acrylics, but they’re not quite the same thing. Sarah recognises the elementary appeal by choosing relatively simple subjects and including lots of hints, tips, exercises and demonstrations. In fact, she’s produced a pretty effective introduction to painting in general – if that’s you, or someone’s asked you for advice, you could do a lot worse than start here.
So, it’s a first, it’s basic, it’s user-friendly and Sarah covers the subject completely without going into more detail than she need or should. Can’t say fairer than that.
Sarah is a professional artist who paints plein-air in oils and watercolour. Her larger paintings are often completed using plein-air reference either at home in her Cornish studio or on her travels in her mobile studio. 

Sarah has exhibited many times with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, in the Discerning Eye exhibition and with the Royal Society of British Artists.  She is represented by Beside The Wave Gallery in Cornwall and Brian Sinfield Gallery in Oxfordshire. She was the only English artist who worked on 'Loving Vincent', the world's first fully hand-painted feature film, about the artist Vincent van Gogh and his paintings. Sarah also featured in the Cancer Research video 'The Missing Third', painting van Gogh’s sunflowers, and provided the artists' perspective for the audio guide for the Tate Britain exhibition, Van Gogh and Britain. 

Sarah works with Artlook Software as their Client Support Specialist. She is sponsored by Royal Talens, artists' materials, and is their Artist Ambassador. Sarah runs regular workshops and gives talks and demos. 

She is also an illustrator and author. She has written 'how to paint' books, and has worked for the BBC on 'Jackanory', with The National Trust and many others, including numerous publishers both in the UK and all over the world – to date, more than 100 titles.
Sarah Wimperis View titles by Sarah Wimperis

Photos

Full cover
Author
TOC
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread
Sample spread

About

Discover the numerous merits of working with water-mixable oil paints in this accessible beginner's guide. Water-mixable oils are more environmentally friendly and easy to use for artists of all skill levels.

Water-mixable oil paints offer a simple and easy way into the world of oil painting. They offer all the qualities of traditional oils – rich pigments, buttery consistency, long drying times and the ability to change and evolve as you paint – but with one big difference, there is no requirement for solvents or other mediums.

The aim of the book is to encourage and inspire beginners and to provide them with all the skills and knowledge they need to produce successful oil paintings. It starts with an introduction to the medium, and explains what water-mixable oils are and why they offer a good alternative to conventional oil paints. This introduction is followed by several sections on materials, preparation (getting your space ready, how to care for your brushes, storage of paints, etc.), color (selecting your basic palette), mixing the paints and preparing your surfaces. The first demonstration explains how to explore colour to paint in the style of Vincent van Gogh.

There are then five longer projects that guide the reader through an entire painting from start to finish, on themes such as abstraction, still life, landscapes, buildings and working from a photograph. The projects are designed for success, which fosters confidence and encourages practice, which in turn makes people into enthusiastic, happy painters!
Each project will be accompanied by a clear list of materials needed as well as top tips and skills practised; Sarah also interjects with useful anecdotes and words of wisdom garnered from her experience working in this vibrant and exciting medium.

At the end of the book, the reader discovers how best to store and transport finished paintings, especially if the paint is still tacky to the touch, and how to crop a painting for greatest impact.

Praise

Art Book Review - Jan 2024
Water-mixable oils have been around for quite a while now. I first encountered them a good many years ago when Pelikan Mastercolor appeared on the scene – it doesn’t seem to be available now. For all that the idea isn’t new, I can’t remember a whole book being devoted to the medium. To be fair, the method of working is pretty similar to conventional oils or acrylics, so that’s hardly surprising.
The medium’s main advantage is being odour-free, making it user-friendly in an environment shared with non-painters. It’s also quicker to dry and requires less messy cleaning up so, basically, a virtuous circle.
All of this makes using the water-mixable (they’re not actually soluble) variant of oils ideal for the beginner or someone who wants to experiment with the medium. Yes, you could just use acrylics, but they’re not quite the same thing. Sarah recognises the elementary appeal by choosing relatively simple subjects and including lots of hints, tips, exercises and demonstrations. In fact, she’s produced a pretty effective introduction to painting in general – if that’s you, or someone’s asked you for advice, you could do a lot worse than start here.
So, it’s a first, it’s basic, it’s user-friendly and Sarah covers the subject completely without going into more detail than she need or should. Can’t say fairer than that.

Author

Sarah is a professional artist who paints plein-air in oils and watercolour. Her larger paintings are often completed using plein-air reference either at home in her Cornish studio or on her travels in her mobile studio. 

Sarah has exhibited many times with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, in the Discerning Eye exhibition and with the Royal Society of British Artists.  She is represented by Beside The Wave Gallery in Cornwall and Brian Sinfield Gallery in Oxfordshire. She was the only English artist who worked on 'Loving Vincent', the world's first fully hand-painted feature film, about the artist Vincent van Gogh and his paintings. Sarah also featured in the Cancer Research video 'The Missing Third', painting van Gogh’s sunflowers, and provided the artists' perspective for the audio guide for the Tate Britain exhibition, Van Gogh and Britain. 

Sarah works with Artlook Software as their Client Support Specialist. She is sponsored by Royal Talens, artists' materials, and is their Artist Ambassador. Sarah runs regular workshops and gives talks and demos. 

She is also an illustrator and author. She has written 'how to paint' books, and has worked for the BBC on 'Jackanory', with The National Trust and many others, including numerous publishers both in the UK and all over the world – to date, more than 100 titles.
Sarah Wimperis View titles by Sarah Wimperis
Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Use

© 2024 Penguin Random House

Back to Top
0
    • 0
    Wish List (0)