However, I have some observations based on my limited use.

First, I like it. The H2Oil has a pleasing sheen when dry (better than my W&N Artist Series) and I really like the feel and colour. It behaves like an oil, and mixes perfectly with regular oils.

I am so impressed with it that I am considering gradually shifting over to water-miscible as I use up my regular oils.

This would eliminate solvents.

Anyone considering these, rest assured that they are “real” oil paints. They have just been modified so they can be mixed with water. Great idea.

The reason I continue to use water-miscible oils is not about convenience. “Yeah, I like to paint so I can wash out my brushes easily.” How dumb does that sound? I rarely use any kind of solvent when I paint except for cleaning. Even some of these paints don’t always clean up that easily. I do, however, like to use water and oil emulsions, such as egg or casein, when I paint. I find these oils are more compatible in that regards than regular oils.

Winsor & Newton by their own admission have said that their Artisans paints have a lower pigment load than their Artist line, but HIGHER than their Winton line, so the quality of that brand is somewhere in between. However, they’re not the only company that makes them. In terms of pigment load alone, check the pricing on all these brands for genuine cerulean blue (PB35.) You’ll be able to see which ones have a higher pigment load just in terms of price.

If you’re going to do a comparison, you’ve got to test all of them or else there’s no point to it. There are professional grade water-miscible oils. Grumbacher Max, Holbein Aqua-Duos, and Lukas Berlin all rate these equal to their pro level paints. Granted, those brands are not the best professional paints on the market, but that’s why I have a mixed shelf of paints, including regular oils of various brands.

The best of these paints have been the Holbein Duos, in my opinion. Very consistent all the way through their color line. My only complaint had been that the color choice was limited, but they’ve recently added more (labeled as “Elite.”) Lukas Berlin were almost as good, but sometimes too oily. The problem I’ve had with the others is a lack of consistency in handling; sometimes fine, other times too stiff or oily, or took forever to dry.

I’ve used both regular and WM oils - they both have their pros and cons, but if you go with the WM option, the ones I’ve had the best success with are the Holbein Duo paints. YMMV, but that’s been good for me.

I also found that in his book Brushwork Essentials, Mark Christopher Weber also suggests Holbein Duo paints. FWIW, that book is pretty exclusively wrapped around the use of WM oils. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1581801688

I find the WM oils to be a little more tacky than regular oils, but I get very nice results if I use a couple of the WM mediums with the oils. I rarely used turp in my regular oil paintings other than for blocking in, so it was just for cleaning. Likewise, I rarely use water when painting, so it’s mostly mixing paint and medium just like when I painted in regular oils.

Also, FWIW, I’m also prone to freeze my brushes at the end of the evening if I’m going to continue painting the next day. Mark Weber suggested that this is still possible with the WB oils. I wasn’t sure if I could still do that since there might be ice expanding in the ferrule, but it still works like a champ, and saves clean-up time as well as extending brush life. Plus it makes for good conversation when friends are looking for ice cubes.

Jeff - thanks for the Zorn links - those are gorgeous.

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/image.asp?id=7367

I would think that one could do a lot with just watercolor with the right amount of study, as Anders Zorn did.

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/image.asp?id=7358

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/image.asp?id=7356

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/image.asp?id=10109

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/image.asp?id=7357

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/image.asp?id=7386

For those who are allergic to solvents use walnut oil to clean your brushes.
then wash them in linseed oil soap or olive oil soap.

Oil paint is not toxic unless you eat it the toxic colors such as Cadmium or Lead.

To quote Scrooge; Water Miscible Oils… bah humbug…