PIGMENT TOKYO is an art supply store that provides a wide range of products, from ready-to-use paints to raw materials such as pigments. You can make your own paints by mixing the pigments and binders of your choice.
However, not all pigments and binders have the same properties, while not all paints can be made in the same way. The best ways to make paints differ according to their properties since some pigments are suitable for color mixing while others need to be ground.
This article introduces the basic methods of making different types of paint.
—Types of Paints and Binders
Paints are a mixture of “pigments” (colorant) and “mediums” (binder).
Pigments do not adhere to paper or canvas by just mixing with water. They become the paints by kneading well with painting mediums until their particles spread out and are coated with the mediums to gain adhesion. Kneading well is a key to making paint in good quality, no matter which binder is used. The more they are kneaded, the paints turn out shinier, smoother and more saturated.
◾️Watercolor Paint
Binder: Gum Arabic
Gum Arabic is a highly water-soluble natural resin extracted from the bark of acacia trees.
Watercolor paints retain their water solubility even after being dried and can be revived as paints when moistened even after solidification.
Because of this unique property, dried watercolor paints may bleed again and be mixed with the other layers depending on the substrates and how they are rendered, so this type of paint needs to be layered carefully.
◾️Acrylic Paint
Binder: Acrylic Emulsion
As the acrylic emulsion dries, it forms a film and becomes water-resistant. The emulsion dries quickly, making it easy to apply layers or create textures with a brush or painting knife. It also allows the paint to adhere easily to a wide range of substrates, including wood and glass.
On the other hand, once they solidify into a film, the acrylic paints are no longer soluble in water, so when making paints, they must be kept from drying out.
We also recommend the use of a Pigment Dispersant for Aqueous Paint for certain pigments.
You can also create a variety of textures by adding Gel Mediums or Acrylic Thickener that can adjust the viscosity of paints.
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Acrylic Emulsion
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Acrylic Thickener
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Pigment Dispersant for Aqueous Paint
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◾️Iwa-enogu (Mineral Pigments)
Binder: Animal Glue
Iwa-enogu or mineral pigments are commonly used in traditional Japanese paintings called Nihonga.
Animal glue, a refined binder by boiling down animal collagen, works perfectly with water and has the property of changing its form depending on the temperature. It is solid at low temperatures and when the temperature increases, it transforms into a gel and then into a liquid. Its reversibility allows it to move back and forth between these conditions.
Therefore, in Japan, where temperature and humidity fluctuate, and artworks are stored in the format of hanging scrolls after Urauchi backing is applied, animal glue is an ideal material.
◾️Oil Paint
Binder: Drying Oil (poppy oil, linseed oil, safflower oil, walnut oil, etc.)
There are two types of oil, one is drying oil that solidifies and another one is non-drying which is never dried.
Oil paints are made with vegetable-based drying oils. Only drying oils harden slowly through an oxidative polymerization reaction, in which the oil bonds with the oxygen in the air.
Another key characteristic of oil paints is their plasticity, which allows paints to keep the marks left by a painting knife and a brush. While watercolors evaporate and dry, oil paints do not have elements that evaporate and solidify without any volume change. When painting with them, it would be better to use solvents such as volatile oils for thinning paints and additives that faster drying time. There are various types of drying oils and oil mediums with different characteristics. Check the following articles for a good reference when using oil mediums.
＜Article References＞
・Types of Drying Oils Used in Oil Painting
・A Practical Guide to Oil Painting Mediums
Next is about basic tools and how to make paints.
—Tools for Making Paints
◾Board and Muller (Kneading Stick)
Board and muller are essential tools for making large volumes of paint and have been used since ancient times.
These tools are especially recommended for making oil paints and Suihi pigments which require crushing and grinding.
【Types of Paint】
Watercolors, Acrylics and Oils
【Materials & Tools】
・Board (example: Marble Stone Board)
Marble stone is suitable for making paints on it due to its ability to maintain cool temperatures.
Other stone slabs or slightly thicker glass plates are also acceptable if they are smooth and sturdy, however, try to avoid using metal plates, as metal dust from grinding may affect the paint.
Mullers are mainly made of glass, stone or ceramic, and can be used for kneading while grinding pigments. If you frequently work with pigments that require grinding or in a large volume, relatively heavier and larger sizes will be easier to knead.
As an alternative, glass or ceramic cups with smooth bottoms can also be used.
・Painting Knife
Oil Paints:
A painting knife made of either metal or plastic can be used, but when using strong pigments or oil paints, metal is more durable and easier to clean for maintenance.
Watercolors / Acrylic Paints (or other water-based paints):
A painting knife not made of stainless steel or plastic (iron, steel, etc.) tends to rust if not wiped clean immediately. Therefore, it is important to make sure what kind of material your painting knife is made of before use.
◾Using Paper Palettes and Painting Knives
Pigments can be kneaded using a paper palette and a painting knife.
However, these tools may not be suitable for some types of mediums, pigments and the amount you want to make.
A paper palette can be peeled off piece by piece and its white background makes it easy to observe the colors too.
【Applicable Paints】
Watercolors, acrylics, oil paints, etc. that are made with fine particle pigments.
— How to Make Paints
The following are instructions for making watercolor and oil paints with a marble board and a muller, as well as how to knead Iwa-enogu on a ceramic plate.
◾Watercolor Paints
【Materials & Tools】
Pigments: Nakagawa Gofun Suihi Pigments Botan / Ki, Matsuda Oil Paint Titanium White
Binder: Kusakabe Gum Arabic Medium
Others: Honey, Water (mist spray)
Tools: Marble Stone Board, ZECCHI Muller (kneading stick)
① Moisten the Marble Stone Board
Watercolors are difficult to knead when the board is dry, so it is better to moisten the board before use.
Spray water from a distance of 20 to 30 cm from the board with a mist spray to cover an appropriate amount of surface.
② Place Pigments on the Board
Use a spoon such as a Yakusaji (Dispensing Spoon)to avoid spreading the pigments all over the board.
③ Add Binder
Add Gum Arabic Medium.
The approximate ratio of pigment to binder is equal (1:1). You can add more later, so it does not have to be precise.
・Tips for Making Professional Paints for Your Artworks
It is recommended to add pigments and the necessary amount of gum arabic before the step⑤ (before kneading with a muller). This makes it easier to control the mixing ratio of the binder.
・Tips for Beginners Who are New to Mixing Colors
When mixing colors, instead of adding several colors from the beginning, start with a single base color and add another color later into the kneaded paint to prevent uneven kneading. After mixing it, repeat steps ⑥ through ⑦.
④Add Honey
Add a small amount of honey.
Although commercial paints often contain glycerin, honey is more commonly used in classic methods. Therefore, we will follow the classic recipe this time.
You can make watercolors with only pigments and gum arabic, but adding honey to the mixture will give them a nice sheen and softness.
If the total amount of pigment is about 5 to 6 heaping dispensing spoons, 2 to 3 drops of honey are enough. Be careful not to add too much, as it will make the paint sticky and hard to dry.
⑤ Mix with a Painting Knife
Use a painting knife to mix. Pigments should be coated by the binder and turned into wet colors.
⑥Knead with a Muller
Knead the mixture with a muller while creating a figure of 8. Start by moving in a small figure, then gradually a larger one as you knead, so that you can knead it more evenly.
⑦ Gather the Paint to the Center with a Painting Knife and Keep on Kneading
Once the paint has spread, gather it in the center with a painting knife and knead more.
Flaky or hard pigments, such as Suihi pigments, may still have lumps left over. So remember to gather all the pigment grains even on the back of the muller, so there will be no leftovers.
Repeat steps ⑥ to ⑦ until all lumps of pigment are gone and the paint becomes smooth.
If the paint is powdery, dry or hard to knead (the muller is hard to move around), simply add more water or binder to the mixture.
Watercolor paints are best when they have a paste-like texture like honey.
⑧ Ready to Paint
After kneading well, the paint is ready to use.
Once the paints are made, you can keep them in a plastic case or glass jar according to your labeling preference.
◾Oil Paints
【Materials & Tools】
Pigments: Nakagawa Gofun, Suihi Pigment Botan / Ki, Matsuda Oil Paint Titanium White
Binder: Kusakabe Oil Color Medium
Tools: Marble Stone Board, ZECCHI Muller (kneading stick)
① Put Pigments on the Board
Place the pigment in the center of the marble stone board.
This time I used the Suihi pigment that I had slightly ground beforehand.
② Add Medium
The suggested ratio of pigment to oil medium is approximately 1 : 0.5.
How much pigment can absorb the oil depends on the type of pigment. If you already know the formula or the exact amount of oil needed, simply mix that amount with the pigment.
If the pigment is still powdery, dry or hard to knead, it means that the oil medium is not enough. As shown in the image above, you can make a dent in the middle of the pigment powder and put the medium there to avoid spilling the oil around, it will be easier to tell how much oil you have added as well.
For oil paints, it is not recommended to add more pigments or mediums after starting to knead the mixture with a muller.
The key is to make a hard paste at first because it is difficult to harden the paste later. After making the paste, you can add more mediums depending on the condition and your preference.
This time, I used the Oil Color Medium, which is a blend of oil squeezed from safflower seeds and stearic acid extracted from coconut trees. Stearic acid prevents the paint from separating and gives it flexibility, making it an easy-to-handle binder even for beginners.
＜Article References＞
Let's Make Oil Paints with Oil Color Medium
③ Mix with a Painting Knife
Next, use a painting knife to blend the color. During this state, you can see the difference between wet and dry colors. Mix it until the entire pigment has been fully blended with the medium.
If you plan to combine different colors, remember to add all the pigments and the required amount of medium by this step.
④ Knead with a Muller
While kneading with the muller, draw a figure of 8.
To make sure it blends as evenly as possible, start with a small figure 8 and gradually increase the size of the figure 8 while kneading.
⑤ Gather the Paint to the Center with a Painting Knife and Knead More
Once the paint has spread on the board, gather it to the center with a painting knife and keep on kneading with the muller.
The oil paint in the above image is still not kneaded enough. You can see the rough texture remains.
By repeating steps ④ to ⑤, the color and texture will gradually improve.
Even if the same pigment is used, you can see the difference between watercolor and oil paints during this process.
⑥Ready to Paint
After kneading well, the paint is ready to be used.
The paint became shiny, smooth and vibrant.
Even if it’s scraped with a painting knife, the paint does not lose its form, indicating that it has the plasticity unique to oil paints.
The easiest way to keep the paint for short-term use is to simply wrap the paste with plastic wrap. However, unlike metal tubes, they cannot completely block out oxygen, so remember to use all the paint as soon as possible.
◾Mineral Pigments
【Materials・Tools】
・Pigments
When you use plate-like pigments such as Suihi or earth pigments, you need to crush them into powder by grinding.
It is easier to use a pestle and a mortar for making a large volume of paint.
If you do not have the tools and want to make several colors or just in a small amount, the best substitute is a piece of A4-size paper (or flyers) and a round stick.
＜Grinding（without pestle and mortar）＞
Fold an A4-size or larger sheet of paper in half and place the pigment inside. Roll the stick over the paper with your hand and grind the pigments down. It is easier to work with a slightly thicker stick such as a rolling pin.
・Animal Glue
When you have dry animal glue, dissolve it beforehand and prepare a solution with the right concentration.
The physical properties of animal glue vary depending on the type and date of manufacture. The best concentration of animal glue also varies according to other factors like the particle size and type of pigments, substrates, expression style, studio environment, etc. Therefore, it is better to adjust the concentration according to the situation and your personal preference.
Please prepare a round plate like our palette plate with little depth that prevents spillage and is easy to knead.
・Water
Water and animal glue is added to pigments little by little.
It is easier to prepare a bowl of clean water and adjust the amount you pour with a spoon like Mizusaji (glue spoon).
【How to Make】
① Put pigments on a plate.
② Add a small amount of animal glue solution.
③ Knead the pigment and animal glue with your finger pad until they are mixed well.
④ Add a small amount of water and knead more.
Adjust the amount of animal glue and water as you knead.
You can also learn more from this video and the following article.
＜Reference Article>
Iwa-Enogu, an Essential Coloring Material for Nihonga
It is also possible to use a board & muller or a pestle & mortar for fine particle mineral pigments such as the ones labeled no.Byaku, but coarse pigments are better to knead on a palette plate.
Kneading with your fingers keeps the glue in liquid and coats the pigment particles evenly.
Furthermore, it is difficult to store paints kneaded with animal glue for a long time at room temperature. Therefore, if you wish to reuse them later, you need to remove the animal glue from the pigments with warm water.
＜How to Remove the Animal Glue＞
① Pour warm water into the plate and mix with your fingertip.
② Once the mineral pigments sunk to the bottom, pour out the water containing the animal glue.
③ Repeat the above steps two or three times helps to remove the animal glue from the pigments completely.
Leave it dry and you can add the animal glue to the pigments again for the next use.
Moreover, there are workshops on watercolors and mineral pigments, where you can learn through lectures and hands-on practice by PIGMENT TOKYO's art materials experts.
It is highly recommended to those who prefer to receive advice from an instructor or want to experience the technique in person.
Any age or artistic experience level is welcome to attend these introductory workshops!
PIGMENT TOKYO WORKSHOPS
Profile
Art Materials Expert at PIGMENT TOKYO
NATSUKO SHIRAISHI
Art Materials Expert at PIGMENT TOKYO Graduated from the Textile Design at Tama Art University. While she works as an art material expert at PIGMENT, she also continues her career as an artist of original paper, Japanese paper and calligraphy.
Art Materials Expert at PIGMENT TOKYO Graduated from the Textile Design at Tama Art University. While she works as an art material expert at PIGMENT, she also continues her career as an artist of original paper, Japanese paper and calligraphy.