Watercolors From Scratch

At an artist retreat last year I got to build my favorite watercolour palette:
ultramarine, veridian green, burnt umber, yellow ochre, mars orange, ivory black, sahara red.

 

During these past Covid years, I've revived an appreciation for watercolor paints. I use them in my personal artwork, and when volunteering--for my sound meditation and art sessions. Making paints is a great way to get strong vibrant colors, and exactly what I want. My paints have made it into the hands of a few artist friends as well. 

I gifted individual palettes to friends over a meal. This was at Red Emma's cafe.

 

There is a lovely artists' retreat in my community where I spent a week last February. There I drank tea, enjoyed silence, mixed paints, sculpted little faces (for some reason), and enjoyed the outdoors. 

I made it all, the gum arabic, paint pots, and labels...2 dozen pain palettes from scratch.

My paint recipes are fairly simple, but safety is a priority in this process. Powder pigments may be derived from chemical processes, milled mineral/metals, or a combination. They are dangerous if inhaled, and precautions should be taken to keep them from entering the body:

To be sure that these chemicals are not ingested, inhaled, or absorbed, I:

• use a fresh KN95 respirator
• mill powder and liquids together outside ONLY! 
• work outside only..I also don't want pets to inhale these fine powders
  
• wash hands and face thoroughly after handling paints,
• wash my clothing after working with pigments, and
• clean up any spilled pigment with a wet, soapy towel .

Necessities: Gum Arabic, plastic or metal pots, pigment powder, morta and pestle (or flat glass plate and glass miller), syringe (optional), and container to stored paint.