Aqueous Pigment Dispersions for Waterborne Paint

Natural Pigments introduces a new way of making traditional waterborne paint: Rublev Colours Aqueous Dispersions. Aqueous dispersions are pigments dispersed in water ready to be mixed with water-based mediums. These dispersions are specially made for traditional painting mediums, such as egg, casein, fresco, watercolors, and distemper (glue tempera). They are also ideally suited for use with gesso for making toned grounds for drawing and painting.

Pigment dispersions from Rublev Colours contain only naturally-derived ingredients, in addition to pigment and water, making them ideally suited for traditional and natural mediums. Unlike other pigment dispersions typically made for acrylic medium, Rublev Colours Aqueous Dispersions do not contain coalescent solvents, artificial dispersing resins, and other additives that interfere with natural mediums. Rublev Colours Aqueous Pigment Dispersions make preparing traditional mediums easy; you do not have to hassle with powders, grinding pigments with expensive tools, and calculating pigment-binder ratios to make water-based paint. They make adding the right amount of paint binder simple and easy. For example, preparing egg tempera has never been easier because the dispersion makes measuring the right amount of pigment manageable—you add egg and stir—there's no guessing how much egg to add to the pigment. Rublev Colours Aqueous Dispersions are highly concentrated, free-flowing, yet thick, stable liquids in which pigment particles are suspended in water. Dispersions are produced by mixing dry pigments, water, and other ingredients.

There are many advantages to using dispersions when compared to dry pigments. Here are a few of the top reasons:

  • They are quick and easy to use.
  • There are no airborne pigment particles to contend with, so they are safer to use.
  • Dispersions provide greater brilliance and tinting strength than dry pigments because the pigment particles are better dispersed than you could do by hand—even with a muller.
  • Because they are pigment concentrates, they give a cleaner, more intense color.

How to Make Water-Based Paint

Making traditional paint has never been easier because pigment dispersions and paint binders are all you need. There is no need for mullers and slabs, mortar and pestles, measuring cups, and other tools to make finely dispersed water-based paint.

Paint = Binder + Pigment Dispersion

Select the binder you want to use, such as egg yolk, casein, or hide glue for tempera, gum arabic for watercolors, or water for fresco.

  • Shake the bottle of dispersion well before using.
  • Squirt the desired amount of dispersion in a cup, dish, or palette well.
  • Add the paint binder dropwise, usually an amount by volume equal to that of the dispersion.
  • Stir carefully. Do not stir too vigorously, as this may entrap air and create too many air bubbles.
  • Add more water to make a thinner, more fluid paint.

Rublev Colours Aqueous Pigment Dispersions have been extensively tested with the following waterborne paint:

  • Egg yolk and whole egg tempera
  • Casein tempera (milk or quark paint)
  • Collagen glue (distemper)
  • Watercolor (gum arabic, gum tragacanth, dextrin, starch)
  • Fresco (lime putty)

Pigment Dispersions

Rublev Colours Aqueous Pigment Dispersions can tint animal collagen, gesso, chalk, and acrylic dispersion grounds. Squirt the desired amount of dispersion into the warmed traditional grounds and stir gently. You can even use the dispersions to make your pastels.

Rublev Colours Aqueous Pigment Dispersions

 

Rublev Colours Aqueous Pigment Dispersions

 

Rublev Colours Aqueous Pigment Dispersions


Where to Buy

See the entire range of Aqueous Pigment Dispersions


Questions about Pigment Dispersions

What are in the dispersions—just pigment and water?

The dispersions are mostly pigment and water; the remaining ingredients are less than 5% of the dispersion formula and are naturally derived. Rublev Colours Aqueous Dispersions do not contain solvents, dispersing resins, or other ingredients that may interfere with natural or traditional water-based paint binders.

What keeps the pigment from separating or molding?

Rublev Colours Aqueous Dispersions contain a natural gum to keep the pigments suspended and protect them from freezing if exposed to cold temperatures. We also use naturally-derived biocides often used in personal care products to protect them from spoiling. We extensively tested these ingredients and the dispersion formulas with egg, casein, collagen glue, natural gums, and fresco plaster. We performed accelerated aging tests to determine their long-term behavior.

Are pigment dispersions equal in cost to dry pigments?

No, weight-for-weight pigment dispersions are more expensive than pigment powders. Rublev Colours Aqueous Dispersions, however, contain the maximum amount of pigment to make a thick yet flowable dispersion, so the price is economical and, better yet, the convenience is outstanding.

Will all of the pigments offered by Natural Pigments be available as dispersions?

The entire assortment of Rublev Colours dry powder pigments will be available as dispersions. We will also be making available dispersions of modern pigments not found in the selection of Rublev Colours dry pigments.