Hello there, could you please provide a little more info or pics. Are you working with mattes or mica pigments? What is your binder recipe you applied? For silvers, there are lots of websites suggested in the resources page on the website. There are lots of different beautiful silvers so it's hard to suggest juat one. I like to sample different ones from different suppliers. Sometimes if I am looking for a pigment in a hurry, I go to Google and type silver pigment and look at the images as a short cut. It does require a lot of trial and error to find the right pigment for you.
I have silver pigments (mica) from a few stores, but all my silver paints are very strange. I mean, when I only use silver pigment, the paint becomes a strange growing pillow and looks like a sponge cake. When the paint is dry, the sheet is very matte, i can hardly see any glitter particles ...
Your ratios in your binder recipe needs adjusting. Normally the ratio of water to gum arabic is to 1 (powder) : 2 (water) so for every cup powder you double that in water. That means you're using too much gum and it's hardening. The gum is like a glue powder but needs the right amount of water ratio.
If you adjust your binder, then you may see a difference in your silvers. Also, are you mulling it or mixing with a palette knife?
The silver you are using, what are the ingredients listed? Some mica silvers have black iron oxide coating and some have larger micron sizes and some are metallic (aluminium alloy) pigments. If your pigment continues to behave this way after you improve your binder recipe, I would discontinue use and seek to sample a different kind. It should not behave that way.
Hello there, could you please provide a little more info or pics. Are you working with mattes or mica pigments? What is your binder recipe you applied? For silvers, there are lots of websites suggested in the resources page on the website. There are lots of different beautiful silvers so it's hard to suggest juat one. I like to sample different ones from different suppliers. Sometimes if I am looking for a pigment in a hurry, I go to Google and type silver pigment and look at the images as a short cut. It does require a lot of trial and error to find the right pigment for you.
My binder:
2 cups boiled destilled water
1½ cups gum arabic powder
3-4 drops clove oil
2tbsp glicerine
2tbsp honey
What do you think? Should I change something? 🤔
And about silvers...
I have silver pigments (mica) from a few stores, but all my silver paints are very strange. I mean, when I only use silver pigment, the paint becomes a strange growing pillow and looks like a sponge cake. When the paint is dry, the sheet is very matte, i can hardly see any glitter particles ...
Your ratios in your binder recipe needs adjusting. Normally the ratio of water to gum arabic is to 1 (powder) : 2 (water) so for every cup powder you double that in water. That means you're using too much gum and it's hardening. The gum is like a glue powder but needs the right amount of water ratio. If you adjust your binder, then you may see a difference in your silvers. Also, are you mulling it or mixing with a palette knife? The silver you are using, what are the ingredients listed? Some mica silvers have black iron oxide coating and some have larger micron sizes and some are metallic (aluminium alloy) pigments. If your pigment continues to behave this way after you improve your binder recipe, I would discontinue use and seek to sample a different kind. It should not behave that way.
I agree with adjusting your binder recipe. What is your mica to binder ratio?