Most are from lake pigments, with a few earth pigments in the mix.
From the top left, reading right:
Top row: Red roses, iron oxide, greens from florist waste, cranberries
Middle row: Red roses (again,) red cabbage, kyanite, lemons
Botton row: Spinach and corriander, just spinach, beets, agate grindings (from my rock tumbler)
These are just the ones I managed to get potted and dried, I have a whole box of mixed paints waiting on another order of watercolour pots.
They all look a bit different in consistency in part because I've tried a few different formulas of watercolour mix, and because they're made from different things. Cranberries and red cabbage always end up a bit "sticky."
My latest formula for watercolours is:
- 300g Gum Arabic Solution (gum arabic powder and water)
- 280g Glycerine
- 20g Clear honey
- 20 Drops clove oil (antibacterial - paints will mold)
I mix into pigment at a 1:1 ratio by weight.
Very cool! I am very curious: could you share a photo with the colours painted on a sheet of paper?
Sure thing. These aren't the exact same ones. They look way richer when they're still wet, and get better the more water I work into them. It's just a matter of figuring out a better formula now.
What is that blue one, 3rd from the top on the left?
Red roses, weirdly. The dye bath turned pinky brown, dyed silk a light salmon colour, made red-brown as an alcohol ink, and turned blue during the lake pigment process - but the filters all stained purple. Roses, man.
Yellow ones made brown pigment.
Thank you for responding! That's super interesting. Have you noticed any issues with lightfastness?
I haven't been making organic paints for long enough to experience it, but they are considered fugitive pigments. I think I mentioned in another comment how I use archival spray that blocks UV to help them last longer. I also store my pigments and paints in closed containers.
Ah gotcha. Thank you kindly!
No problem at all. I love sharing facts.