Water-soluble oil paint sticks let you draw with oil color directly, then move and soften that color with a damp brush. The basic process is simple: remove the dry surface film, apply the fresh color, add only a little water, and mix larger color batches with a palette knife.
The five tips below come from an artist demonstration created in collaboration with Phoenix. They focus on the small setup choices that make the medium easier to control—from opening a fresh stick to saving color on your palette between sessions.
Watch the artist demonstration: Embed the Phoenix Instagram Reel here. Add the creator’s approved name, handle and sponsorship disclosure before publication.
The Five Tips at a Glance
- Remove the dry surface film before drawing.
- Start with less water than you think you need.
- Mix custom colors with a palette knife.
- Use a sturdy disposable paper palette.
- Cover the palette and revive workable color with a light mist.
Phoenix water-soluble oil paint sticks contain pigment, refined linseed oil and wax in a solid stick format. Unlike ordinary oil pastels, they are designed to work as a drying oil-paint medium while also accepting water for wet-brush effects and easier cleanup. You can browse Phoenix water-soluble oil paint sticks before following the tutorial.
What You Will Need
- Phoenix water-soluble oil paint sticks
- A primed canvas, canvas panel or another surface recommended on the product label
- A palette knife
- A sturdy disposable paper palette
- One or two brushes
- Clean water
- A small spray bottle
- A palette cover or clean, shallow container
- Paper towels or a reusable studio cloth
Keep food and drinks away from the work area, wash your hands after painting, and follow the label for the colors in your set.
Tip 1: Remove the Dry Surface Film
If a stick feels hard or seems to leave broken, patchy marks, do not press harder immediately. Oil paint sticks naturally develop a thin dry film on the exposed surface. That film protects the softer paint underneath while the stick is stored.
Use the edge of a palette knife to lift or scrape away only the dry outer film. Fresh color should feel softer and transfer more evenly. Peel back the paper label only as far as needed so the rest of the stick stays protected and your hands remain cleaner.
Common mistake: Removing the plastic or paper wrapper but leaving the dry paint film in place. The wrapper and the dry surface film are two different layers.
Good habit: Check the tip each time you return to a previously opened stick. Remove only the film that has formed; there is no need to cut away a large piece of usable paint.
Tip 2: Use a Damp Brush, Not a Soaking-Wet Brush
Water changes the mark. A dry stick gives you direct, opaque strokes and textured edges. A damp brush softens those strokes, spreads the paint and can create thinner, wash-like passages.
The easiest way to stay in control is to begin with a brush that is just damp enough to move the color:
- Wet the brush with clean water.
- Blot it lightly on a cloth or paper towel.
- Test it on a small area of paint.
- Add more water only if the color still does not move as far as you want.
Too much water can make the first layer run farther than expected and reduce control over edges. That may be useful for a loose underpainting, but it is less helpful when you want a clean shape, concentrated color or a controlled transition.
Try this comparison: Make two marks with the same color. Move one with a barely damp brush and the other with a wetter brush. The side-by-side test will show how quickly water changes coverage, edge quality and transparency.
Tip 3: Mix Custom Colors with a Palette Knife
The colors in a set are a starting palette, not a limit. A palette knife lets you combine them into custom neutrals, shadow colors, skin-tone mixtures and small color families without loading a brush too early.
To mix a new color:
- Place a small amount of each stick color on the palette.
- Press and fold the colors together with the flat of the knife.
- Scrape the mixture into a compact pile.
- Spread a small swatch beside it to judge the result.
- Adjust in small increments before adding the mixture to the painting.
A knife is especially useful when you want a uniform mixture. It keeps paint from collecting deep in the bristles and makes the true mixed color easier to see. Once the color is ready, apply it with the knife, a brush or the stick itself, depending on the edge and texture you want.
For a simple portrait mixture, begin with a light base, add a warm color gradually, then neutralize it with a very small amount of its complement or an earth color. Skin is not one fixed recipe, so compare the mixture with your reference instead of relying on a universal ratio.
Tip 4: Use a Sturdy Disposable Paper Palette
Mixing with a knife needs a surface that is flat, broad and resistant to scraping. Coated disposable palette paper provides enough room to separate clean colors from mixtures and can simplify cleanup at the end of a session.
Organize the page so you can see what is happening:
- Place unmixed colors around the outer edge.
- Keep the center open for mixtures.
- Reserve one clean area for light colors.
- Wipe the knife between mixtures to prevent accidental mud.
Do not rinse concentrated paint residue into a sink. Phoenix’s water-soluble formula makes brushes and tools easier to clean with water, but “water-soluble” does not mean that a large quantity of leftover paint should enter the drain. Minimize waste, collect residue on the palette or a towel, and dispose of it according to local requirements. Recycle clean packaging where local facilities accept it.
Tip 5: Cover the Palette and Use a Fine Mist to Extend Working Time
If you plan to continue soon, cover the palette between sessions. When the mixed color begins to stiffen, a very light mist can sometimes make it workable again. Start with one fine spray, wait briefly, and test with the palette knife before adding more.
In the featured artist’s studio demonstration, covered palette mixtures could sometimes be reworked for up to three days. Treat that as one artist’s observation rather than a guaranteed open time. Temperature, airflow, humidity, paint thickness, color formulation and the seal of the cover can all change how quickly a mixture forms a film.
A mist can help with color that has only started to stiffen; it cannot reliably reverse a fully cured oil-paint film. If the mixture has developed rubbery pieces or a firm skin, remove those pieces instead of forcing them back into the paint.
A Simple First Painting Workflow
Use the five tips together in one short study:
- Choose three colors plus white or a colorless blender.
- Remove the dry film from each stick.
- Draw the main shapes directly on a primed surface.
- Use a barely damp brush to spread selected passages, leaving some direct marks visible.
- Mix one custom midtone and one darker neutral with a palette knife.
- Add the mixed colors with a brush or knife.
- Preserve a few crisp, dry-stick marks for contrast.
- Cover any useful palette mixture if you will return soon.
- Let the painting dry undisturbed on a flat, dust-protected surface.
This sequence keeps the medium’s two personalities visible: direct oil-stick marks and softer, water-moved passages.
Troubleshooting Water-Soluble Oil Paint Sticks
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Problem
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Likely cause
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What to try
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The stick skips or leaves crumbs
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Dry surface film is still present
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Gently remove the film with a palette knife
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The wash becomes weak or hard to control
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The brush carries too much water
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Blot the brush and rebuild color gradually
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Mixed color looks muddy
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Too many colors or a dirty knife were used
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Limit the mixture and wipe the knife between colors
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Paint collects in the brush
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A large mixture was made with bristles
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Mix on the palette with a knife first
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Saved paint contains rubbery pieces
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A surface skin has already formed
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Remove the pieces; mist only paint that is still partly workable
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The painting is still tacky
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Oil layers, climate and airflow affect drying
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Leave it undisturbed and allow more time; do not assume a fixed drying date
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How Long Do Water-Soluble Oil Paint Sticks Take to Dry?
There is no single drying time for every painting. In the featured demonstration, the artist reported that the painting dried in about one week. Your result may be shorter or longer depending on layer thickness, pigment, surface, temperature, humidity and airflow.
Water helps move this particular paint while you work, but the finished paint still contains a drying-oil binder. A surface that feels dry to a light touch is not necessarily fully cured. Avoid stacking, wrapping or varnishing a painting according to an arbitrary one-week schedule; follow the applicable product and varnish instructions and allow extra time for thick passages.
Cleanup and Storage
- Remove excess paint from the knife and brushes before washing.
- Wash tools with soap and water after removing as much residue as possible.
- Keep paint residue out of drains and waterways; follow local disposal rules.
- Reseal or rewrap opened sticks and store them in their original, labelled packaging.
- Store in a dry, cool, well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight, food and drink.
- Wash hands after use and before eating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to peel an oil paint stick before using it?
The exposed paint develops a thin dry film during storage. Removing that film reveals the softer, workable color underneath. Do not confuse this paint film with the paper or plastic packaging.
How much water should I use with water-soluble oil paint sticks?
Begin with a damp, blotted brush. Add water gradually until the paint moves the way you want. A wetter brush creates a looser, more transparent passage; a drier brush preserves stronger color and more controlled edges.
Can I use water-soluble oil paint sticks without water?
Yes. Apply them dry for direct lines, broad side strokes, layering and textured marks. Water is an option for moving or thinning the color, not a required first step.
Are water-soluble oil paint sticks the same as oil pastels?
No. Both come in a stick format, but oil paint sticks use a drying-oil binder and are intended to form a paint film. Oil pastels generally remain workable and can stay susceptible to smudging. Always check the exact product label because retailers sometimes use the terms loosely.
Can dried palette paint be revived with water?
A fine mist may loosen a mixture that has only begun to stiffen, especially when it has been covered. It will not reliably restore paint that has fully formed a cured film. The artist in the featured demonstration sometimes reworked covered mixtures for up to three days, but conditions vary.
Can I wash leftover paint down the sink because it is water-soluble?
No. Water solubility makes normal tool cleanup easier, but concentrated leftovers should not be poured into the drain. Remove excess paint first and follow local waste rules.
Continue Exploring Oil Color: Watch the Artist Comparison
Water-soluble oil paint sticks offer the directness of drawing, while tube oil colors give artists a different range of brushwork, mixing and layering possibilities. To see those handling qualities in action, watch Phoenix’s artist-led comparison of Phoenix Artist Oil Colours and Winsor & Newton oil colours:
This related video focuses on tube oil colors rather than the water-soluble sticks used in this tutorial, so treat it as the next step for exploring the wider oil-painting medium.
For educators, retailers and product teams that need the material definition behind this tutorial, read the B-site comparison of oil paint sticks, oil sticks and oil pastels.
Ready to Try the Five Tips?
Start with a compact palette, a primed surface and one controlled water test. The most important habits are simple: expose fresh paint, add water gradually, mix with a knife, keep the palette organized and cover useful mixtures between sessions.
Prefer to build a palette one color at a time? Shop the Phoenix 37 ml Water-Soluble Oil Paint Stick.
