Berries/Flowers/Plants + HOt Water
Earth/mineral Pigments + HOney + Gum Arabic
Plant Matter:
To use berries or flowers in watercolor, first boil some water.
Add the hot water to a bowl with your flower petals or berries and crush up the organic material in the hot water to break open the colors and release the pigment into the solution. (Tip: The less water you use, the stronger your color will be).
After the plants have been crushed and the color dispersed in as strong a solution as possible, let the colored liquid sit for a half hour or longer.
Strain out the leftover petals or berries and your colors are ready to use.
Earth and Mineral Pigments:
If you are interested in making watercolors with your earth and mineral pigments, there are a variety of tutorials online. Many will require you to crush and sift the pigments as instructed above and then combine with honey and Gum Arabic.
To use berries or flowers in watercolor, first boil some water.
Add the hot water to a bowl with your flower petals or berries and crush up the organic material in the hot water to break open the colors and release the pigment into the solution. (Tip: The less water you use, the stronger your color will be).
After the plants have been crushed and the color dispersed in as strong a solution as possible, let the colored liquid sit for a half hour or longer.
Strain out the leftover petals or berries and your colors are ready to use.
Earth and Mineral Pigments:
If you are interested in making watercolors with your earth and mineral pigments, there are a variety of tutorials online. Many will require you to crush and sift the pigments as instructed above and then combine with honey and Gum Arabic.