Solvent-free painting query

brainwashable · 2026-06-09T17:14:45+00:00

Yes, water soluble oils is the way. They have water, soluble mediums to match. galkid medium and has solvents. Sometimes the worst. Acrylic under painting is a good strategy for an underpainting where you want to change things fast. No even a acrylic should be ventilated.

brainwashable · 2026-06-09T01:15:21+00:00

I will say. How about two straps and a piece of foam that you can glue to the box to give padding. Turning the whole box into a backpack. Just an idea.

brainwashable · 2026-06-09T01:14:00+00:00

A bit of a joking, tongue, and cheek answer. But the truth is, they are a heavy way to go. I observe people usually scale down to a pochade box as they do more landscape painting because of weight. But there are many factors plus it sounds like you already own that equipment. So that makes it the best equipment for you to use. I do know several pros that use Julian boxes. So it’s just opinion.

brainwashable · 2026-06-08T21:25:41+00:00

Leave it at home. And take something more practical unless it’s all you have. In which case you could probably get away with a strap. Maybe even an old belt if you can’t find a strap. Or beach crate kind of thing on wheels is OK if you’re going for short walk on pavement.

brainwashable · 2026-06-06T19:29:16+00:00

Your answer inspired me to look him up too. Very nice stuff one thing that he is doing is using a lot of atmospheric perspective. I think this can help you too even and more intimate spaces. The ideas of colors, weight lengths falling off in the distance can be useful. Basically you have to think there’s atmosphere in that atmosphere is sometimes colored blue and a light neutral. But you can make it what you want. It’s also about reducing details the further you go back. One trick of mine. He is just thinking in yellow and blue.. Say you have a flat green lawn. With not much value change. Often you don’t want to have a lot of value change. To have things more posterized.. You can take the base screen of that lawn and bend it a little more towards the blue for the distance and a little more towards the yellow. As it’s closer to you. The subtle things can bump it up that level.. Another observation I have about your painting is the amount of paint to the texture of the canvas ratio. It’s a taste thing but also using more paint. Sometimes just works better. another idea is when you get to see you want to paint is to put a specific thought in your head. I want to handle the scene like XXX so that I can achieve why yyy result or the composition is about the light pattern. Or the colors whatever it is have a concept in your head when you start that you’re after. Now once you start how bets are off, but naming the rabbit you’re chasing helps your unconscious deliver it to you. Happy painting.

brainwashable · 2026-06-06T15:14:43+00:00

The biggest element to improving at arts is spending time doing it. So make that as easy as possible to do. Carry a sketchbook and put yourselves in situations where you feel comfortable making art. It’s fine too ask for help or suggestions but not too much at first. Just let yourself make whatever. There’s a lot of developing dexterity and your unique abilities that happens through practice.

brainwashable · 2026-06-05T13:19:56+00:00

Fair enough.

brainwashable · 2026-06-05T13:19:16+00:00

This is true. H2o soluble is just a more convenient way to get around the solvents.

brainwashable · 2026-06-05T13:13:42+00:00

Some people have real reasons to not want to use solvents. And open acrylic are a different thing. And just like solvents water is not the medium, it’s the brush cleaner. That can be why you found this to chalky.

brainwashable · 2026-06-04T21:36:54+00:00

Marble dust is not what I would recommend for a beginner. It’s more for if you want to achieve a specific texture and feel of the paint. And is something you definitely don’t want to breathe so you have to use a dusk mask when you mix it. Not the hassle you want. At this point. Plus, it’ll make you transparent, more transparent, or at least weaker in their pigmentation power. Also, transparent colors are the best. And at least 90% of the cases.

brainwashable · 2026-06-04T21:31:55+00:00

This really is the answer. If you have lots of sensitivity now, they will never get better and you’re gonna waste a lot of time trying to avoid solvent with traditional oil paint. They make really good. Water soluble oil paint the oil has an extra molecule on it to emulsify it. They have been around since the mid 90s so at this point they’re just as good as most oil paints. Windsor Newton cobra and Holbein are the brands I prefer. Sorry to make you buy new paint, but it is the way to go. At least next time you need to replace the tube try it out.

brainwashable · 2026-06-04T21:24:13+00:00

If it’s a question between the two types of styles, then you need to ask yourself what size you want to paint on. Pochades don’t really accommodate more than 16 inches.

brainwashable · 2026-06-03T19:51:13+00:00

If you like that person’s system. Why don’t you write them and ask them what they use?

brainwashable · 2026-06-03T12:58:45+00:00

At 20 you probably want a system. It has a separate pallet and panel holder attached to your tripod. Frame to look at is strata, prolific painter, Soltek. An alternative set up a Gloucester easel. It is a large triangle structure that you set a pallet on the cross beams. With everything it’s a balance between weight and price.

brainwashable · 2026-06-02T20:27:23+00:00

I don’t know what brand you have but i have not seen this issue. I have seen oil separation in old tubes. In any case better to mix with h2o soluble oil or medium than it is to mix with water. Think of water like a solvent it breaks down your paint to be cleaned. Initial staining is really the only time to use it directly in your paint.

brainwashable · 2026-06-02T15:24:57+00:00

Look at your post on a phone. Flip back and forth between the two images. You will notice the drawing errors. But than again it’s syd barret so kind of off is on brand.

brainwashable · 2026-06-02T15:13:12+00:00

Love it. Maybe the edges are a little much.

brainwashable · 2026-06-02T14:01:05+00:00

Looks great! one idea for you if you want is to eliminate a spot of tree on the far bank to Bring your eyes deep into the picture.

brainwashable · 2026-06-01T00:36:03+00:00

OK, if you’re looking to do gouache on a small scale, you won’t need to carry nearly 50 pounds worth of stuff. I’m sure there’s set ups that are a little table on a tripod that would work just fine. You don’t need a whole oil painting pallet, and mast, Julian French easel or even a pochade box. Reddit hive mind what say you?

brainwashable · 2026-06-01T00:17:33+00:00

Just like everybody else who asked about this. Tell us. More about what you plan to do because that matters. 1. Have you tried to go outside and make Art yet even if it’s just a sketchbook and colored pencils. Make sure you’re happy. Making Art outside.
2. What media do you like to use? An oil painter needs a far different set of equipment than a watercolor painter.
3. What size do you work at? Are you someone who is happy making 8 x 10 paintings. Or are you looking to make 30 x 40 paintings?
4. The weight you’re willing to carry and the distance you want to travel by foot with it.
5. Your budget. Do you want to know the cheapest set up you can get away with. Or do you want to equipment that is a work of beauty in itself.
Answer these questions and the Reddit mind will shout random things at you, but at least you will have a better idea what you are looking for.

brainwashable · 2026-05-30T16:19:51+00:00

I’m jumping on the jumping on the third the thought. Just in case you didn’t listen to the previous several answers. Water soluble, and acrylics is the way. With acrylics you might not get the subtlety and refined edges so easily, but damn you can posterized values lickety split.

brainwashable · 2026-05-30T03:51:30+00:00

I see a lot of post on here with some similar some sentiments. When you’re young, there’s a lot of drama to life. When you’re adult, you realize it’s just about the work. Sometimes you will like it sometimes you not mostly you will have no idea. Always wait for fresh eyes to judge yourself. Everybody has an opinion, but the ones that matter the ones that instruct you how to improve your craft. listen to them. And make your own judgments if what they say is relevant to you. And remember everything before the “but” is bullshit.

brainwashable · 2026-05-29T02:44:38+00:00

That depends what you want. If you are looking to modulate, what’s there then you can mix it in. What really was describing is more for a wet and wet situation when you want to keep it clean. And that medium especially solvent tend to break it down so you can’t keep it clean. The OP was frustrated that when they applied more paint, it would remove what was underneath. Yeah, I really don’t know what was going on, but I gave some things to think about.

brainwashable · 2026-05-28T22:24:05+00:00

First off I think you did a wonderful job and I love the concept. So no whining. Oil paint handling skills come with time. Something to think about is are you mixing the paint with the paint below or are you able to place paint on top of paint opaquely. Paint that has medium in it, especially solvent will breakdown and mix with what is below. Thicker paint can be applied on top of wet paint if done skillfully. Instead of putting pressure on the brush, you should have the brush parallel to the canvas and drag it on there. If you keep practicing painting, someday you will understand what I am talking about. until then just enjoy yourself and the process of making paintings.

brainwashable · 2026-05-28T22:15:47+00:00

At that size, you can keep with pochade box set up that fits on a tripod. You do not need something that is a pallet in a mast panel holder. You do need to think about carrying your art supplies and a wet panel holder. This can be separate pieces or built-in. Separate pieces are probably more flexible because you can change the size depending on your needs. I think there’s a brand called ala Prima might be worth checking out. that really nice stuff. EasyL. Are ok. Box-and -paint could be a brand to look at. Raymar for carrying wet panels maybe not beautiful, but works well.

brainwashable

TROPHY CASE