Artist's Paints

While ready-made paints are easily obtained, creating one's own natural colors and handling the ingredients remain the essence of artistic creation. This collection of recipes is meant as an introduction to time tested techniques. Concerns regarding safety and archival quality go hand in hand when making and using artist materials. For more information see our Additional Resources list below.

Painting by Mary M. Jay

Additional Resources:

  • The Painter's Handbook by Mark David Gottsegen. Watson Guptill Publications.
  • We highly recommend using the resources of AMIEN. AMIEN is a resource for artists dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, up-to-date, accurate, and unbiased factual information about artists' materials presented by the education department of the ICA, America's oldest regional art conservation center.