Any one any suggestions?
My paints seem squidgy, when pressed (but not wet)
I don't use honey in my recipe and im allowing for 30days+ to dry
Any ideas of product I can add to help them dry sufficiently?
I want to be able to send my finished paints in the post.
I live in the UK so not too hot or humid.
I have tried fridge and dark cupboards for storage whilst curing but to no success,
Please help fellow watercolour fans
Lou
Do you use glycerine? What are your ingredients? It could also be the ratio binder to pigment is a bit off.
Hi Simone.
I do use glycerine a small ratio to binder. I think maybe I have used too much binder to pigment. I will try that thank you
@Louise Evans Glycerine makes it more "elastic" it could play a part in your paint being squidgy. But too much binder to pigment also! Could be both these elements are to blame. You should experiment to find "better" ratios. Be careful with not enough binder, because your pigment does need enough binder to "stick" to the paper.
Good luck! I don't want to use Stacey's platform for promoting my own website or anything, bur I wrote a blog about working with (new) pigments (sorry Stacey) https://www.studioartisjok.com/2019/05/workflow/
@Simone Michiels That has been most helpful, i just need to keep experimenting. I have never had a good result when using honey. So gave up on the honey. My recipe must be out. Yikes I best get experimenting. I use 2x parts Gum arabic to 1x part distilled water. Perhaps I need to reduce the humectant. Plenty of fun to be had for experimenting. Thank you Simone. Thankyou Stacey for this amazing forum. Louise Willow Tree Art / Resin8
Which pigment are you using? Sometimes some pigments can make things like this. I read thta you use glycerine. How many amount did you used? maybe you used a big amount? You can try to empty again all your filled pans and try to add more pigment and binder (if glycerine is the problem) and change the amount of binder/humectant you use. Maybe for that pigment that you are using that amount doesn't work. ( I needed to to this a couple of times) In my case, the pigment that makes this "problem" for me is Permanent Yellow PY1.
I had a problem with a watercolor that don't dry, it's stiky no matter what i do. But i noticed that some watercolors from brands that i have bought in tubes,when i put them in half-pans they don't dry Now that i think, all of them were green ones..
In this case what i did is to use some transparent powder in the top of the half-pan to prevent paint to stick to the papel or aluminium foil which i wrap my pans.Then, i use a extra layer of oven paper when i wrap the pan. I also tell that the paint is stiky,so, if anyone buy that color, they know that.
Hope this can help you
Hi Lunsel
This is most helpful, I am a teacher artist for resin8 UK and their pigments here in the UK. So I am loyal to using their micas. Nether a less I do love to explore. I think I'm going to buy some cornellison pigments from London and have a play with some earthy Tones.
This site is fantastic sharing the love of paint making. I love experimenting and painting in my own paints 🎨
Louise
@Louise Evans Wow i didn't know about that brand! I will take a look!
@Louise Evans Cornellison is a great brand. Highly recommend!
Hi Louise I put my paints in a cupboard with a disposable dehumidifier - the sort you can use for clothes or keeping cupboards or camera equipment dry. If i am impatient i put 2 in 😅 So far it has worked even though i don‘t pour and dry in layers as real artists do (i don’t sell paint) but it definitely doesn’t work if there is glycerine in the paint (i tried) and you do run the risk of cracked paint (Has happened). All the best!
Yikes thank you
I'm off to buy one now
Tha k you
Also Jacqueline - your method is working well as I have noticed a dramatic improvement in your paints setting nicely. xo
@Louise Evans You’re welcome! Hope it works out for you!
I am also aware of another method used in a very humid climate where you can put the watercolor pans in a container with lid on and add in so many desiccant beads. This was after they trialed the dehumidifier.
Works for my flower preservation.... So going to try
Thank you Staci
how many beads do you use ? I tried them yesterday and thought initially they were making the paint dry faster but after overnight they don’t seem much further along . I had 6 packets with 2 grams of beads in each packet.
@shannon.binegarfoster I used quite a lot! I bought reusable silica beads (when they turn pink you bake them until they go back to their original blue & then can use them again, which I need to do with these beads)