this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
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The Grind & Bind Art Alchemist's Guild

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I made these watercolours from raw materials (infosec.pub)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by Wren@lemmy.today to c/Art_Alchemist_Guild@lemmy.today
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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.

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[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ooh I'm saving this. Years ago I made watercolors (with comercial pigments though) that were so incredibly high quality, better than high tier windsor and newton. I miss them so much. I will try again following this recipie.

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Nice! I know quite a few older artists from remote areas who only painted with their own mixes. When I think about it, it makes way more sense to just have pigments and medium on hand rather than a whole bottle of acrylic that'll dry up before you use it.

But take that recipe with a huge salt block, I'm still in the experimental phase. My original had the same amount of glycerine and honey, but I found it cracked more when it dried — the red, green and yellow were made with that one.

Good luck!

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

take that recipe with a huge salt block.

I will, thanks. I know what I lost when I forgot the og recipie. ;c It came from a very reputable and now inaccessible source.

Alas, good quality watercolor is expensive as heck, and even tho I've gotten a lot of mileage out of a mid tier portable set, I'm craving the good shit. So it's worth a try.

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

If it helps, I started here: https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2020/09/25/making-handmade-watercolours-with-jacksons-artist-pigments/

And I might only have issues because I'm eyeballing my way through lake pigments, leaving leftover salts and chemicals because fuck stoichiometry. Real earth pigments could satisfy your cravings with that recipe.

BTdubs to save money on a muller and pallette I recommend a thrifted microwave plate and glass butt plug.