How do you make water paint?

To make watercolor paint, you essentially mix pigment with a binder and a bit of a humectant. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Steps to Make Watercolor Paint

1. Prepare the Watercolor Medium: This is the binder that holds the pigment together and allows the paint to adhere to paper.

   • Ingredients:

     • 6 Tablespoons of hot water
     • 3 Tablespoons of gum arabic powder (the binder)
     • 2 Tablespoons of honey (the humectant, keeps the paint moist)

   • Instructions:

     1. Pour the gum arabic powder into the hot water.
     2. Mix thoroughly until the gum arabic is fully dissolved. Ensure no clumps remain.
     3. Add the honey and mix well. This creates the watercolor medium.

2. Prepare the Watercolor Paint: This involves combining the medium with pigment.

   • Ingredients:

     • Watercolor medium (prepared in step 1)
     • Pigment (powdered form)

   • Instructions:

     1. Mix 1 part watercolor medium with 1 part pigment. You may need to adjust the ratio depending on the pigment’s characteristics and desired consistency. Start with equal parts and add more pigment for a more concentrated color or more medium for a more transparent wash.
     2. Grind the pigment and medium together using a muller on a glass slab (if available) to ensure thorough mixing and a smooth consistency. If you don’t have a muller, you can use a palette knife and a smooth, non-porous surface.

3. Storing the Watercolor Paint: Proper storage ensures the paint remains usable.

   • Store the watercolor paint in airtight containers, such as small jars or pans.
   • Label each container with the pigment name for easy identification.

By following these steps, you can create your own custom watercolor paints, allowing you to experiment with different pigments and create unique colors tailored to your artistic needs.