The Art of Homemade Paints

The art making your own paint

The convenience of commercially made paints is unbeatable. It is easy to forget how fortunate we are as artists to have easy access to ready made paint. Prior to the industrial revolution, most artists made their paints themselves. Their excellence as artists came not only from their skills at painting, but also from their ability to create their own mediums, and to access the materials necessary to do so.

Crafting our own supplies is no longer a barrier to participate in art, but have you ever considered what goes into creating your own paints? In this how to article”, we will dive into the art of homemade artist paints, exploring the process of crafting unique colors from scratch.

Understanding Homemade Paints

Homemade paints offer distinct advantages over commercial ones, such as cost-effectiveness and the ability to customize colors to suit your palette preferences. Whether you want to create your own paints, or stick to buying commercially prepared ones, understanding the process of creating them will give you a better understanding of a paint’s qualities, what additives you can use, and how to get the most out of the paint you already have.

Gathering Ingredients and Materials

The foundation of homemade paints lies in pigments and binders

To embark on your paint making adventure, you’ll need to gather a few essential ingredients and materials. The foundation of homemade paints lies in pigments and binders. Pigments are the colorants that provide the desired hues, while binders act as the medium that holds the pigments together, allowing them to adhere to surfaces.

The binder you choose is responsible for what type of paint you will create. Gum arabic, egg yolk, acrylic polymer, and other binders each contribute unique properties to the paint. Gum arabic, derived from the sap of the acacia tree, is a common binder used in watercolor paints.

Egg yolk, with its emulsifying properties, has been used for centuries in egg tempera paints. Acrylic polymer is a plastic polymer that binds together pigments for acrylic paint. By mixing pigments and binders in different ratios, you can achieve a wide range of colors and textures, tailored to your artistic preferences.
See Recommended Supplies: Dry Pigments and Binders

Pigment Preparation

Preparing pigments is a vital part of creating paints. Depending on the source and form of the pigment, such as minerals, plants, or synthetic sources, different methods may be employed. Pigments can be ground, pulverized, or processed to achieve the desired consistency.

The size of the pigment particles can affect the final opacity of your paint, finer particles tend to make for consistent but more transparent paints, whereas larger pigments can create more opacity. Some pigments are prone to be more transparent or opaque than others. Transparent paints tend to be more difficult to create because they take more work to incorporate evenly within a binder.

Taking the time to prepare pigments properly ensures vibrant and rich hues in your homemade paints. To ensure thorough mixing and dispersion of the pigments in the binders, the use of a glass muller is recommended. 

Tips on Mulling

Place a small amount of the pigment and binder mixture on a flat, non-porous surface such as a glass or marble slab. Typically, the slab will be sanded to have a slight texture, allowing the pigments to be combined thoroughly into the binder. Using the muller, apply pressure and grind the pigments in a circular motion, spreading and blending them with the binder. This process helps achieve a consistent and uniform distribution of pigments, resulting in vibrant and well-mixed paints.

While mulling, you may notice that the mixture becomes too thick or dry. In such cases, you can add small amounts of additional binders or solvents to achieve the desired consistency. The goal is to create a paint mixture that is smooth, easy to work with, and flows well on the chosen surface.

See Recommended Mullers: New York Central® Glass Mullers and Grinding Plates

Testing and Refining

After mulling, test the paint by applying a small amount onto a test surface. A sketchbook or paint swatch book is a great place to keep track of your paint swatches and recipes. Observe the color, texture, and consistency of the paint. Look out for the pigment clumping or not dispersing evenly.

If your paint has too much pigment, it will be textural and the pigment may rub off when the swatch is dry. If necessary, make further adjustments to achieve the desired results. This iterative process allows you to refine your homemade paints and ensure they meet your artistic requirements.

Experimenting with Color Mixing

Understanding color theory lays the foundation for successful paint mixing. By experimenting with different combinations of pigments, you can create secondary colors, tints, shades, and even your own custom hues.

Keep in mind that some pigments are much stronger than others. In some cases a yellow pigment might over power a blue pigment because of its opacity and intensity, despite its pale value.

Exploring the attributes of different pigments will help you mix colors quickly and accurately. 

Storage and Shelf Life

Proper storage is essential for maintaining the quality and longevity of homemade paints. Storing paints in airtight containers, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, helps prevent drying out or degradation. Labeling each container with the paint color and date of creation allows for easy identification.

It’s important to note that homemade paints may have a shorter shelf life compared to commercial paints. However, with proper storage and care they can remain usable for an extended period.

Want to store your mixed paints?

Tip: if you are making homemade oil paint you can use Empty Paint Tubes for storing and saving various mixtures and colors. Be sure to label them! You can also use paint bottles.

Safety Considerations

When engaging in paint making, safety should always be a priority. Some pigments may pose health risks if inhaled or ingested, so it’s important to follow safety guidelines. Adequate ventilation in the workspace is crucial to minimize exposure to airborne particles.

Wearing protective gear such as gloves and a NOISH approved dust mask can further ensure your safety. Breathing in particulate matter can be hazardous, even when pigments are non-toxic. Additionally, proper disposal methods for unused pigments, binders, and solvents should be followed, respecting both personal health and environmental considerations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use natural materials as pigments for homemade paints?

A: Yes, natural materials such as minerals, plants, and even certain insects can be used to create pigments for homemade paints. However, it’s important to research and ensure that the chosen materials are safe and suitable for artistic use.

How long do homemade paints typically last before drying out?

A: Homemade paints may have a shorter shelf life compared to commercial paints. However, with proper storage and care, they can last for several months to years. Regularly checking the consistency and quality of your paints will help determine their usability.

Are there any special considerations when using homemade paints on specific surfaces?

A: The same preparation used for commercially made paints should also be used for homemade paints. For example, unprimed canvases may absorb the moisture from water-based paints differently than prepared surfaces. It’s important to research and follow the appropriate surface preparation methods for optimal results.

What type of mask should I use while making home-made paints?

A: Whenever you are handling pigments, make sure you are in a well-ventilated area. A ventilator or NOISH approved dust mask are necessities, even when working with non-toxic pigments. 

More Resources

• Brushstrokes & Molecules: Unveiling the Chemistry Behind Oil Paint
• How Real Oil Paint Was Made
• Synthetic vs. Natural Brushes for Oil Painting
• Painting with Linseed Oil: What you need to know
• What is Underpainting in Oil Painting?