Water-Soluble Oil Paint

Can You Use Cold Wax Medium with Water Mixable Oil Paint?

Cold wax medium can be mixed with water-mixable oil paint, but adding wax changes the paint's handling and means the mixture should no longer be treated as water-dilutable.

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Depending on the wax type, it creates various effects, including increasing or decreasing transparency, texture, and depth. 

Cold wax can apply different purposes to the paint. Such as:

  1. Top coat
  2. Paint medium
  3. Varnish

In this article, I will explain

I already explain similar topics in different articles, you can check

Best cold wax for water mixable oil

Choose a cold wax medium intended for oil painting and check its compatibility with water-mixable oils, because wax content, solvents, firmness, and finish vary by product.

  Grade Note
Jacquard Dorlands Wax Artistic  Popular cold wax
Gamblin Artist Colors Cold Wax Artistic  One of the popular gold wax
Zest-It Cold Wax Painting Medium  Artistic  Not very popular but give nice results as medium 

How to apply cold wax to the paint

Mix cold wax into water-mixable oil paint gradually, using a small test first and adjusting the ratio for body, transparency, matte effect, and application method.

  1. Paint medium
  2. Varnish

How to use cold wax as the paint medium?

Cold wax increases paint thickness and texture. So making this, you need

  1. Palette knife (For mixing)
  2. Scraper (Scrap paint)
  3. Spectulas paint (spread wax paint)
  4. Cold wax
  5. Water mixable oil paint
  6. Walnut or linseed oil (instead of solvent)
  7. Wear gloves 

How to apply?

Step 1: Mix the paint with wax

Mix paint with wax 50-50 ratio. Take help from a putty knife to mix properly. Apply linseed oil if it needs thinning. 

Step 2: Apply the paint-wax mixture to the surface

Use a spatula or brush to apply the paint-wax mixture to the surface you will be painting on. Make sure to use a little more pressure than usual since the mixture is thicker. Simply apply it to the surface you want to paint on, and you're good to go!

Step 3: Create textured effects

If you wish to create textured effects, you can use the palette knife or other tools to create patterns or designs in the wet paint. Use the scraper to remove excess paint and remove border paint. 

Step 4: Allows some time to dry

If you want to apply a second or more layer, give it 2-3 hours to dry between coats. However, the wax with water mixable oil paint needs 10-15 days to dry completely. 

This video will help you for more understanding 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrxU8ZgkQY

How to use cold wax as varnish?

Cold wax as varnish will not be permanent and long lasting. It will need to be reapplied over time to maintain the shine and protect the painting. 

You can wax your painting, how you wax your car.

You need:

  1. Soft cloth
  2. Wax

How to apply?

Step 1: Ensure dry painting properly

You have to dry the paint properly before applying the wax. Wear gloves. 

Step 2: Apply wax

Soak the cloth with cold wax, then rub gently on the painting. Make sure to apply the wax evenly over the surface of the painting, covering all areas and paying attention to the edges and corners.

Step 4: Allow the wax to dry

Allow the wax to dry completely before applying additional layers or varnishing the painting. Give it 20 minutes to dry. And then go to the next step.

Step 5: Buff the surface

Once the wax is dry, use a soft cloth to buff the surface of the painting to achieve the desired shine.

This video will help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUDfB3Uo1AM

What temperature should cold wax be?

Cold wax medium is designed to be worked at normal studio temperatures, with softness and handling changing as the room warms or cools rather than requiring heating.