What mediums (if any) do you use with ws oils?

Dominique, try using only the Walnut medium…. just a teeny tiny… you will have to experiment and DO NOT use water at all during painting… that will make it gummy… the only way to avoid gumminess is to not use water during the painting at all… just use it for washing…

I see we are revisiting mediums again. Finally enjoying painting again. In the beginning, it was the mediums that caused me all the problems. I find that the paints often have compatibility issues so I stay with my brands of choice - Holbein Duo mostly, some Cobra colors and the occasional in a pinch Lukas Berlin. I stay away from anything student grade as I want full pigment. It's easier to get better results and there are more pure toned pigment paints in the artist's line for easier mixing of colors.

Although I do not use much medium at all any more, for the final stages, I may use some to glaze or need to thin a paint for fine details. I use MGraham Walnut Oil Alkyd. Someone told me to oil out a painting once for easier blending in sky and water and I did that. I found that even though I used very little oil and carefully wiped the excess off, drippings appeared along the way, which was a disaster. I do not oil out anymore but will repaint an area if I have to blend into it. The whole deal for me in oils is anything is fixable so don't stress, like I did with acrylics. It's relax and enjoy it.

I have tried other mediums and unfortunately I seem to be really allergic to all the rest. The Holbein smells bad and the Cobra works the first time and after that it gets sticky. W/N is not compatible in my opinion with my brands. The MGraham regular Walnut Oil or the one with the added alkyd in it are the only ones I use (Janet gave a good tip of mixing half water half linseed, but I like the Walnut oil based mediums better.) No smell but I still wash my hands well and often if I use them.

Wishing you all Happy Painting, bliss

Glad to see you again. I'm with you on the walnut oil, but, unfortunately, the walnut alkyd triggers my asthma and so I only use it outside and then be sure it is in a separate, closed room to dry.
Judy

Welcome to the forum, Paul.
This is interesting. Are you using a clear gesso so it doesn't alter the color? Also, the gesso is usually an acrylic and it has always been my understanding that you don't mix an acrylic into water-soluble oils but you can paint over dry ones. do you get any cracking on the paint once it dries? I'll have to experiment with this. Thank you for your input.

Holbein DUO's claim that you can mix their water mixable oils with Acrylics with no problems, but I've never cared to try it. I guess it would be considered a mixed medium painting. None of the other water mixable oils have made this claim, so I definitely wouldn't try it with anything but Holbein DUO's. I hope this works out for you. Happy painting!

Paul, what brands of WS Oils are you using?