How to Mix Watercolors from Pans with Watercolors?

Mixing watercolors from pans and watercolors (presumably meaning tube watercolors) involves preparing a watercolor pan with tube paint. This ensures that you can utilize tube watercolor paints more conveniently in a pan format, which is especially useful when creating travel palettes.

Step-by-Step Guide: Filling Watercolor Pans with Tube Watercolors

Here's a detailed guide on how to transfer tube watercolor paints into watercolor pans:

1. Prepare the Pan: Start with an empty watercolor pan. Make sure it's clean and dry.
2. Squeeze Tube Paint: Squeeze a small amount of tube watercolor paint into the pan.
   • Note: According to the reference, if you notice any gum arabic separating from the paint in the tube, shake the tube before squeezing out the paint.
3. Fill the Pan: Squeeze the watercolor paint into the corners of the pan until it is about half full.
4. Stir the Paint: Use a toothpick or a blunt needle to gently stir the paint in the pan. This will ensure an even consistency.
   • Avoid using very fine tools as they might result in wasting paint.
5. Let it Dry: Allow the paint to dry completely. This process will typically take a few hours or overnight, depending on the humidity. Once dry, the paint will solidify, making it ready for use with a wet brush.

Practical Insights

• Gum Arabic Separation: If the gum arabic separates from the pigment in your tube watercolor paint, give the tube a good shake. This mixing helps to ensure that the binder and pigment are properly combined.
• Layering: It is often recommended to add the paint in a few thin layers, allowing each layer to dry before adding the next, rather than filling the pan completely at once. This helps prevent cracking and uneven drying.
• Re-Wetting: Once the paint has dried, activate it by adding a few drops of water with a brush before using it.

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