Can you use water mixable oil paints with acrylic?

Shojib Hoq | Nov 8, 2023

There are many different limitations to using acrylic paint with water mixable oil paint. Because acrylic paint and water mixable oil paint are not the same. Their characteristics are different. However, you can use acrylic paint with water mixable oil paint as base coat, medium, and touch-up. 

Water mixable oil paint is one type of oil paint that features almost the same as traditional oil paint.

But before making a decision, you need to know more.

In this article, I will explain:

• Can you use acrylic paint as a base coat?
• Can you mix the paint with water mixable oil paint? Why not?
• Can you touch up acrylic paint on the water mixable oil paint? 
• And more information.

Different article, I already explained

• How to thin water mixable oil paint

Can you mix water mixable oil paint with acrylic?

There are 6-8 water mixable oil paint brands available. Most brands do not give information about mixing acrylic paint with the paint. Winsor & Newton brand directly says not to mix the paint together, and Holbein Duo Aqua says you can mix small amounts of acrylic paint with the water mixable oil paint. Hulbein suggested using a small drop of water in water mixable oil paint and then mixing or blending the acrylic paint. Other brands do not give any information on this.

However, any brand suggests or not, the two paints follow different chemistry. Acrylic paint is dry with evaluation, and it is like plastic. On the other side, the water mixable oil paint is dry with oxidation. The difference can be affected in the painting long-lasting.

What happens if you mix oil paint and acrylic?

For the short term, the paint can be mixed together. It will stay well. The paint will dry very fast, like 15-20 minutes.

But the different characteristics of the paint can create different and long lasting issues. Maybe 10-15 years later, you can see the paint start peeling, discolor (not tested), or other issues. 

Also, the water mixable oil paint will instantly lose some of its adhesive ability after maxing the two paints together. 

Can you use acrylic paint as water mixable oil paint undercoat?

Acrylic paint is a good option as an undercoat or as a primer for water mixable oil paint. Regularly artists use acrylic paint and acrylic gesso to make canvas prime. The paint makes the canvas surface smooth and creates microporous, slowly absorbing the paint liquid and making oil paint dry faster. 

Artists prefer acrylic (prime) then oil paint. Reason for this. 

Can you use acrylic paint over water mixable oil paint?

You may apply acrylic paint over water mixable oil paint or as a touch-up after drying. But it is not a great decision. You should use acrylic paint on acrylic paint and oil paint over oil paint. Otherwise, there has a long lasting issue.

If you want to apply acrylic paint over water mixable oil paint, don’t directly apply acrylic paint. Mix acrylic paint 30% with water mixible oil paint and apply the touch-up coat. 

What happens if you put acrylic paint over oil paint?

There can be a long-lasting problem. Acrylic paint is water-based, whereas oil paint is oil-based. Each two chemistry is different and doesn’t mix with the other. After applying acrylic paint over oil paint, the paint can not stick properly. After a long time, it can start peeling and start to discolor.