How to make Watercolours

Watercolour Binding Medium

Pigments need to be bound to become a paint. For this they are mixed with a binder. The binders’ functions are to lock the pigment particles into a protective film, act as an adhesive by attaching the colours to the ground and to create an optical effect by bringing out the depth and tone of the pigment. Langridge has developed a range of Paint Binders to allow artists to easily and effeciently master the preparation of their own colours.They include stabilisers and preservatives for maximum durability and performance.

Langridge Watercolour Binding Medium is a medium for the preparation of gouache and watercolours. Made with gum arabic, honey, wetting agents and preservative for optimum effeciency when grinding. Makes watercolours with a smooth brilliant quality that enhances the radiance of the pigment. This ready to use medium is compatible with all the pigments traditionally used in artists' watercolours. For more information on pigment compatibility refer to the Pigment Compatibility Chart .

For those artists that wish to prepare their own binder, a traditional recipe follows.

To Make Watercolours Materials: Pigments, Langridge Watercolour Binding Medium, glass muller, glass slab, palette knife, empty jars, pans or tubes
Method: Put a level dessertspoon full of pigment onto the glass plate. Make a hole in the pigment and drop some solution in (a). Grindng is best done standing, applying pressure whilst moving the muller in a figure of eight motion (b). The friction of the muller will make the water evaporate, so sprinkle in water as you go. Periodically scrape the paste back into the middle of the slab and off the muller. After a while you will notice a change. The pigment and water are amalgated with sleekness of quality. Scrape up the watercolour with a palette knife and press into a pan, jar or collapsible tube (c). Patience is required to obtain the right strength binder for each pigment (Or paint will go hard and insoluble) and to grind the colours finely so that coloured washes result and not gritty ones.

To Make Gouache
Replace half of the pigment content with Whiting before mixing with the Watercolour Binding Medium. Store in sealed containers. Place greaseproof paper on surface to prevent paint from drying in storage.

 

Traditional Method

Materials: Pigments, Gum Arabic solution, Honey water (1 part honey 1 part water), glycerine, wetting agent, glass muller, glass slab, palette knife, empty jars, pans or tubes

Mix 1 part of honey water with 2-3 parts of gum arabic solution and a few drops of wetting agent and glycerine. Honey is added to stop the paint from drying solid. Wetting agent can be used when painting to break surface tension. Put a level dessertspoon full of pigment onto the glass plate. Make a hole in the pigment and drop some solution in.

Grindng is best done standing, applying pressure whilst moving the muller in a figure of eight motion. The friction of the muller will make the water evaporate, so sprinkle in water as you go. Periodically scrape the paste back into the middle of the slab and off the muller.

After a while you will notice a change. The pigment and water are amalgated with sleekness of quality. Scrape up the watercolour with a palette knife and press into a pan, jar or collapsible tube.

Patience is required to obtain the right strength binder for each pigment (Or paint will go hard and insoluble) and to grind the colours finely so that coloured washes result and not gritty ones.