[Scriptoris] Natural pigments question

[Diane Rudin]

Hard to explain this subject very well in writing without pictures or videos. 
I'm sure the internet-savvy folks will provide links shortly.  In the meantime, 
here are some basic things.

You do *not* just pull out a brush and mix binder & pigment together as though 
you were mixing two paints. This will give you a lumpy mess. You need a slightly 
rough tempering implement & surface, such as a mortar & pestle which you will 
never use for anything else ever again, or a glass muller & flat marble grinding 
surface. Sandblasted heavy glass can work as well (*not* acid-etched, as that 
can alter colors of pH-reactive pigments). You will also need palette knives 
(metal or plastic), and a eyedropper to use to add binder solution to pigment.

You can use gum arabic as a binder (the commercially prepared stuff has 
additives, so I make my own from gum arabic powder), or glair (whipped egg 
whites that you then leave out for a while & skim the liquid portion from the 
fluffy stuff).  Of course, if you're trying for egg tempera panel paint, or 
period oil paints, or encaustic, you'll use different binders. My assumption is 
you want to make paints for book illumination. :))

Ratio of pigment to binder depends on a lot of things, including the binder, the 
pigment, the humidity, the type of paint you're trying to make (you use a lot 
more gum arabic in modern watercolors than in period paints). Really, figuring 
out the correct ratio is a matter of trial and error, and lots of experience.  
The key is to add the binder to the pigment one drop at a time.

Decide early on if you care about whether you are using period techniques & 
materials, or modern techniques & materials. Modern paint-makers use additional 
materials & techniques that are not described as being part of the artist's 
process in period manuals. If you care about using the period process, read the 
period manuals.

The earth pigments are good "starter" pigments. Being the most ancient of 
colorants, they are also the least fussy. They're also (pun intended) dirt 
cheap, so if you mess up, no big loss; get more and try again.

Play around a little & have fun experimenting. Keep a notebook of observations 
of your results. Have fun!

--Serena



----- Original Message ----
> From: Jennifer Baker <jbaker at portalsweb.com>
> To: scriptoris at lists.ansteorra.org
> Sent: Mon, July 18, 2011 5:29:10 PM
> Subject: [Scriptoris] Natural pigments question
> 
> I have never painted with natural pigments before, but at KWHSS I was given 
>some  small samples to try.  I have 4 vials, each about an inch tall and 1/2 in  
>diameter.  The pigments are Verona Green Earth, Italian Yellow Earth,  Venetian 
>Red, and Italian Burnt Umber.
> 
> I know I need gum arabic or some  other binder, but I don't know how much to 
>use in proportion to the pigment or  water.
> 
> Can any one offer any advice?  I'd really like to experiment  a bit with these, 
>but I don't want to waste them because I don't know what I'm  doing.
> 
> Many Thanks in  advance,
> Alicia