Making paint is easier than you may think. With basic supplies, such as pigment, linseed oil, a spatula and a clean, flat surface, you can start making small batches of oil paint.
If you want to make enough paint that you can store, however, you will need a muller to grind the paint. Why grind pigment into paint? Although a powdered pigment may appear very fine, it is composed of aggregates of pigment particles. The aggregates clump together to form larger agglomerates and settle during storage in the paint vehicle. Grinding breaks up agglomerates of pigment particles and evenly disperses them in the paint vehicle, thereby wetting particle surfaces more thoroughly.
Note: All the materials and tools mentioned in this article are available from Natural Pigments that you can purchase online.
[FONT=tahoma]Grinding Oil Paint[/FONT]
The amount of oil required for each pigment varies, so it is not possible to provide specific formulas for each color. Some pigments absorb more oil than others, so the following steps help you to prepare oil paint to the consistency you require.
Step 1: Place a small amount of pigment in a heap at the center of the surface. Make a small crater in the center of the heap.
Step 2: Add oil or paint medium to the pigment slowly—a few drops at a time. The less oil added in the beginning, the easier it will be to break up the agglomerates of pigment particles.
Step 3: Fold the pigment into the oil with the spatula. Continue to blend the pigment into oil, applying pressure to the mixture as you mix it. The correct amount of oil is added when the mixture has the consistency of stiff paste and appears dry. In the beginning, it is better to grind a stiff paste than one that is soft and runny.
Step 4: Place the muller on top of the paste. Holding the muller firmly with the heel of your hand down and thumb up. Move the muller in a circular motion outward from the center of the paste. Spread the paste in a thin layer as you grind. The more paste in contact with the surface of the plate and flat bottom of the muller, the smoother the paste will be. The more you grind, the softer it becomes. Paste that is at first dry and stiff becomes wet and soft.
Step 5: Once the paste is spread out, collect it back to the center. Continue grinding with the muller.
Step 6: If the paste becomes runny, thicken it by adding a small amount of pigment to the mixture. Combine the pigment with a spatula then grind with the muller until smooth.
Step 7: When the paint has the consistency desired, it is ready to use or store.
Note: Remove accumulated paint from the sides of the muller with the spatula. At times it may be difficult to move or lift the muller from the grinding surface. Using the spatula as a lever, raise the edge of the muller. Then slide the muller off the surface.
[FONT=tahoma]Storing Paint in Tubes[/FONT]
Step 1: Hold the tube with the cap pointing downward and the open end up. Using a narrow palette knife, pick up some paint and drop it into the tube.
Step 2: Scrape paint off the knife onto the edge of the tube.
Step 3: Paint will accumulate at the open end of the tube. Grasp the tube between your forefinger and thumb. Gently tap it several times on a tabletop to settle the paint in the tube. Repeat steps 1–3.
Step 4: When the tube is filled to about two-thirds, close the end of the tube by pinching it between your fingers.
Step 5: Place the tube on a flat surface and flatten the tube end with the palette knife.
Step 6: Place the knife across the end of the tube. Bend the tube upward, creasing the tube at the edge of the palette knife.
Step 7: Repeat one or two times, folding the end of the tube onto itself.
Clean your tools with light vegetable oil or odorless mineral spirits followed with warm water and soap. Remove caked-on paint by grinding the muller and surface with silicon carbide mixed with mineral spirits. Follow by washing with warm water and soap.
[FONT=tahoma]Paint Making Kits[/FONT]
Natural Pigments Paint Making Kits come with everything you need, including instructions, to start making colors in your favorite medium. In addition to the items listed in the Basic Paint Making Kit, you also get the following items:
Oil Paint Making Kit
Linseed oil, 8 fl oz
Collapsible tubes (20 ml), 6 each
Making Oil Colors instructions
610-1102
Watercolor Paint Making Kit
Watercolor medium, 8 fl oz
Collapsible tubes (20 ml), 6 each
Making Watercolors instructions
601-1104
[FONT=tahoma]Predispersing Pigments
[/FONT]Although many pigments have a natural affinity for oil, some pigments are more difficult to disperse in it. The reason is that these pigments are lipophobic (literally ‘oil hating’) and must be coaxed to become thoroughly wet by the oil. For these pigments, such as organic colors, a small amount of mineral spirits can help to wet the pigment before grinding with oil.
Mix the dry pigment together with a small amount of mineral spirits using a spatula until it forms a dry crumbly mass. The purpose is to wet the pigment particles. Allow some of the mineral spirits to evaporate before continuing on to grind the pigment in oil or paint medium.
[FONT=tahoma]Adding Wax to Oil
[/FONT]Some pigments, such as lapis lazuli or ultramarine, become stringy after grinding or runny during storage. Although you may grind the pigment to a stiff paste, in a short while it will be runny. These pigments may benefit by the addition of a small amount of wax to the oil—up to 4% wax—2% is usually sufficient. The following method makes an oil with 2% wax; however, you can adjust the quantities to suit your needs.
Step 1: Heat 250 ml (8 fl. oz.) of oil in a double boiler.
Step 2: Add 30 g (1 oz.) of white beeswax and stir until melted. Once mixed thoroughly, remove from the heat and cool.
Step 3: When cool, make up 1 liter (1 quart) by adding 750 ml (24 fl. oz.) of room temperature oil while stirring. Allow standing for a day before using. Store the wax-oil medium in a tightly closed bottle with a narrow mouth.
Before mixing it with the pigment, heat the wax-oil medium. Pour it into a hot porcelain mortar, add pigment and grind it with a pestle until smooth. Grinding may then proceed on a flat surface with a muller.
The mortar can be heated by submerging it into boiling water. After the mortar is hot, remove it from the water and dry it thoroughly. Porcelain will retain heat for some time. Heat is needed to ensure a uniform distribution of the wax in the oil.
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