Can the Water Mixable Oil Paint Be Use on Oil Primed Canvas
Shojib Hoq
Feb 17, 2023
Of course, the water mixable oil paint can be used on oil primed canvas as traditional oil paint. The paint will stick well and dry properly. Also, the paint will blend on the canvas as a nice gradient.
All water mixable oil paints are oil paint. It features and works as general oil paint. Only manufacturers add and minus some ingredients to make it more safer and water soluble.
In this article, I will describe:
- What are good oil primers for water mixable oil paint?
- How to prepare a canvas with oil premier and apply?
- Oil premier vs. acrylic gesso for water mixable oil paint?
What are good oil primers for water mixable oil paint?
| Grade | Note | |
| Winsor & Newton Oil Painting Primer, 500ml | Artistic | Popular brand and good primer |
| Gamblin Oil Painting Ground 32 oz | Artistic | Good primer |
How to prepare a canvas with oil primer?
You need
- 2-4 inches brush
- Oil primer
How to prepare the canvas with oil primer?
Step 1: Clean the canvas properly with a clean rag.
Step 2: Put primer on the canvas and spread properly with the brush. If the primer is too thick, you can apply odorless thinner to thin the primer.
Step 3: Give it time to dry. It may take 1-7 days to dry completely.
Step 4: You can apply one more coat of primer if you want. Or go directly to the painting.
Oil or Acrylic Primer for Water Mixable Oils?
Oil primer canvas provides a rich sheen which is impossible to get acrylic primer or gesso primer.
You also can check, is it ok mix water-mixable paint with acrylic?
Difference between oil primer and acrylic gesso primer for water mixable oil paint
| Oil primer | Acrylic Primer or Gesso | |
| Sheen | Very high and rich (glossy finish) | Low (matte finish) |
| Blending | Great | Good |
| Apply compatibility | Only oil paint | Oil, acrylic, watercolor and more |
| Dry time | 1-7 days | 30 minutes to 12 hours |
| Adhesion | Good | Great |
| Clean up | Hard | Easy |
| Coat need | 1-2 | 2 and more |
| Artist use | Very uncommon | Common and regularly uses |
| Skill level | Intermediate | Beginner |
Sheen
Oil premiers tend to have a higher sheen than gesso primers. Oil premier provides a glossy finish, whereas gesso primer provides a matte finish.
Blending
Oil premier surface is great for blending color. Easy to achieve a nice gradient. On the other hand, acrylic gesso gives a gradient but not gloss as oil primer.
Apply compatibility
Acrylic and any water-based paint can not apply on the primed oil surface. Only oil paint is suitable for the primed surface. But on acrylic gesso, primed surfaces can be applied to any type of paint, such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, spray, and more.
Dry time
Acrylic gesso primer dries very fast. It Takes around 30 minutes to 12 hours. Because gesso’s main ingredient is water which evaporates quickly, oil primer dries slowly. It takes around 1-7 days because the premier contains oil and solvent, which evaporate slowly.
Clean up
Acrylic gesso is water based, so it is easy to clean with water. Oil primers need a solvent or thinner to clean the brush.