Select the Pigment
Pigments differ in particle characteristics, oil absorption, transparency, tinting strength, drying behavior, and ease of dispersion.
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Beginner Selection Guide
Compare the Paint Making Sets
Start with the paint system you intend to use most often. The product page remains the source for exact contents because components and included instructional materials may change.
| Set | Best choice when… | Binder approach | Beginner consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Paint Making Kit | You want to explore several paint types or already own a preferred binder. | You select the binder appropriate to the paint you want to make. | The most flexible option, but it requires you to choose and understand the binder. |
| Oil Paint Making Kit | Your principal objective is making artists’ oil colors. | Organized around dispersing pigment in drying oil. | The clearest starting point for an oil painter who wants a coordinated setup. |
| Watercolor Paint Making Kit | You want transparent watercolors for pans or other suitable storage. | Organized around a gum-based watercolor medium. | Choose this over gouache when transparency and watercolor handling are the goal. |
| Gouache Paint Making Kit | You want an opaque, matte waterborne paint. | Organized around a water-soluble binder system for gouache. | Choose this over watercolor when opacity and covering power are the priority. |
Do not choose only by the pigment colors shown. The more important beginner decision is the binder and type of finished paint. Additional pigments can be added after you understand the basic preparation process.
Understand the Process
Four Parts of Making Paint
A set simplifies purchasing, but successful paint making still depends on understanding the role of the pigment, binder, dispersion process, and storage method.
Select the Binder
Drying oil, gum solution, egg yolk, casein, wax, and polymer binders produce different paint films and require different preparation methods.
Disperse the Pigment
Initial mixing wets the powder. Mulling then breaks down agglomerates and distributes the pigment more evenly through the binder.
Use or Store the Paint
Storage depends on the binder. Some handmade paints are best prepared in small quantities for immediate use; others can be placed in pans, jars, or tubes.
Safety: Avoid creating airborne pigment dust. Review the product label and Safety Data Sheet, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and keep food preparation tools and work areas separate from paint-making materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paint Making Sets for Beginners
Which paint making set is best for a complete beginner?
Choose the kit made for the paint you intend to use. Oil painters should generally begin with the Oil Paint Making Kit; watercolor painters with the Watercolor Paint Making Kit; and gouache painters with the Gouache Paint Making Kit. Choose the Basic Paint Making Kit when you want flexibility among binders or already know which binder you will supply.
What is the difference between the Basic and medium-specific kits?
The Basic kit provides a general starting point for dispersing pigments and allows you to choose the binder. A medium-specific kit is organized around the additional materials and storage method used for a particular paint type. Review the individual product pages for the exact current contents.
Do I need a glass muller to begin making paint?
A spatula can combine pigment and binder, but a muller and prepared grinding surface provide more effective dispersion. The muller is especially useful when you want consistent paint with fewer pigment agglomerates.
Can the same pigments be used in oil, watercolor, and egg tempera?
Many pigments can be used in several binders, but not every pigment is equally suitable for every medium. Wetting, chemical stability, transparency, particle size, drying behavior, and safety requirements can differ. Consult the pigment page and test unfamiliar combinations.
How much paint can I make from a kit?
Yield varies substantially because pigments differ in density and binder demand. Film consistency and the amount of binder added also affect the final volume. The kits are designed for learning and preparing small studio batches, not for producing one standardized volume from every pigment.
Where can I learn the actual paint-making procedure?
Begin with the Natural Pigments tutorial on grinding pigments for oil, watercolor, gouache, and egg tempera. Also review the instructions or course included with the selected kit and the technical information supplied for the pigment and binder.
Continue Learning
Paint-Making Resources
Use these guides to choose pigments, understand their properties, and assemble additional tools as your paint-making practice develops.
Paint Making Tools
Compare mullers, grinding plates, spatulas, surface-conditioning materials, and other equipment used to prepare handmade paint.
Browse Paint Making Tools →Pigments by Painting Medium
Choose pigments according to the binder, technique, and conditions in which the finished paint will be used.
Choose Pigments by Medium →Grinding Pigments Tutorial
Follow a practical introduction to wetting, mixing, and dispersing pigments for oil, watercolor, gouache, and egg tempera.
Read the Tutorial →Ready to Begin?
Choose the Set That Matches Your Paint
Return to the product selection, compare the four beginner paths, or assemble a custom setup from individual paint-making tools.
