Water mixable oils / fat over lean

[VickiH]

I am a 76 year old retired educator and a beginning oil painter. My seventh grade teacher convinced me I had absolutely no artistic talent so it wasn’t until last March that I picked up a paintbrush for the first time. I am very excited about oil painting. This is my first post (ever. Anywhere.)

I am using and loving water mixable oil paints and have completed the first two modules of Nolan’s class on using WaMO. (Nolan, you are an excellent instructor!) But I am still confused about how “fat over lean” applies to WaMO. In the module 2 plein air parrot, it appears you thinned each new layer (mid tones, shadow, highlights) with just water. But what about a ‘regular’ painting? The module instructs “add oil to the water” for subsequent layers - but I still get mud. Do I have to wait until the layer is completely dry to touch before adding next layer? How do I know how much oil, how much water?

I apologize for the length of this, but the WaMO/“fat over lean” has been my biggest frustration. I shall appreciate and consider any and all suggestions. Thank you!!
Vicki

[nolan]

"bigwelcome: to the Paint Basket Vicki

Good on you for having the courage to start chatting

If you are painting in one sitting then you could just add water as needed to thin the paint to whatever consistency you need at that point because all the paint will dry at the same rate as is has been painted at the same time.
If however you are painting in multiple sessions, then subsequent layers need more oil than the previous to prevent cracking.
What you then do is add some oil to your water before you start painting. That way everything you paint on this this layer will have more oil in it than the previous layer.
If you need to stop and paint in another session, so a day or more later then the next layer needs more oil (fat) than the previous two so just more oil to the water than the previous layer and so on.

[VickiH]

Thank you so much, Nolan. I know you said that during the intro module, but I didn’t understand because it seemed to me that - in a one sitting painting - you are then making each layer leaner (more water) rather than adhering to “fat over lean.”

I am so impressed with all the resources and classes at PB. I will definitely be taking more classes.

[nolan]

  Vicki
Please post your paintings as you go along so I can give you feedback

Instructions on how to do that is HERE

[Annie.]

Hi Vicki,
Looking forward to see your paintings.  I am also a late in life art student.  It has been the best decision I made for myself.
Have fun learning 

[njnjgirl]

Hi Vicki, I too started late, had been very interested in art when I was young and then it was pushed to the side until I retired.  Good luck, you have landed in the RIGHT place to learn and enjoy this wonderful experience.Looking forward to seeing your paintings.

[Bill76434]

  to the old folks home Vicky