Watercolor is a truly universal technique, being a safe, cost-effective application for children and beginners. Yet it is an
extremely challenging technique that calls upon great technical skill and spontaneity from an artist. Watercolor application
has its beauty in transparency and the luminosity of pigments against a background of stark, white paper.
Gouache shares the same simple application, but with the addition of whiting becomes opaque. Watercolor has been employed in every period of painting, however it flourished in England during the eighteenth century. Today American artists have contributed the largest and most varied amount of watercolor work. The binder in watercolors is water-soluble, usually plant based gums such as Gum Arabic or Gum Tragacanth. Here we provide the instructions for preparing these gums along with a recipe for using them to create a watercolor paint.
Ingredients
The ratio is 1 part gum to 2 parts water. Boil water and pour over the powdered gum, stirring to make sure there are no lumps. Allow the mixture to soak 24-48 hours for full absorption.
Add drops of Clove Oil to extend shelflife. Prepared Gum Arabic must be stored in the refrigerator to deter mold growth. It may be advisable to make small batches so the solution will be fresh rather than storing larger quantities for an extended period of time.
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Ingredients
In addition to Gum Arabic, you can also use Gum Tragacanth for watercolors. To prepare, mix the Gum Tragacanth in your mixing vessel with enough alcohol to create a very soft paste. Then add the water and shake well. This will swell into a gelatinous suspension that will require a couple of days. You may wish to filter it through cheesecloth to be sure there are no remaining inconsistencies.
Add drops of
Clove Oil to extend shelflife. Prepared Gum Tragacanth must be stored in a
refrigerator to deter mold growth. It may be advisable to make small batches
so the solution will be fresh rather than storing larger quantities for an
extended period of time.
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Mix all the ingredients and crush them on a glass plate using a spatula to obtain a paste with a thick, creamy
consistency. It is recommended that you finish the mixture by crushing it with a glass muller (available at art
supply stores). Transfer your paints to saucers for painting. When creating your initial gum, you may wish to add
Glycerin as a plasticizer to prevent cracking and brittleness. The ratio would be 1 part Glycerin or less by volume
to 5 parts of your prepared gum solution. Add the Glycerin after gum has been completely dissolved but while still
warm.
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Gouache is a watercolor that is opaque rather than transparent. To achieve this, one simply mixes in Whiting Chalk
as a "load". The ratio is: 15% whiting chalk with respect to the volume of pigment, or 1 part whiting to six parts
pigment.
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Additional Resources:
More Artist's Paint Recipes: