NEW! Sennelier Dry Pigments

About Colormaking

Mixing Water-Based Colors

Watercolor, gouache, and tempera require the addition of a hydroscopic product such as glycerin, which slows their drying time and makes them more flexible. The natural binder, either an animal or vegetable base, requires a preservative agent in order to preserve the integrity of the paints.

Mixing Oil Colors

For all shades of oil colors, the preferred binder is refined safflower oil or linseed oil, except for whites and very pale blues, for which poppyseed oil is sometimes recommended. For grinding colors, use a glass muller on a sheet of glass or polished marble.

Be careful not to add too much oil when grinding, because the longer you grind the paint, the more fluid it becomes. Each pure pigment has a particular chemical nature and requires specific treatment.

Suggested Mixing Measurements (per 100 g of pigment)

Oil Colors

• 30 g to 100 g oil
• 2 g to 3 g Courtrai drier (Ivory Black requires 5 g to 8 g)
• Add 1 g to 3 g purified beeswax to create extra body

Watercolors

• 50 g to 100 g gum arabic in 35% solution
• 10 g to 15 g glycerin
• 1 g anti-fermenting preservative

Gouache

• 25 g to 50 g gum arabic in 35% solution, or yellow dextrin
• 8 g to 10  glycerin
• 1 g anti-fermenting preservative

Egg Tempera

• 25 g to 40 g gum arabic in 35% solution
• 5 g to 10 g glycerin
• 1 g egg yolk
• 1 g anti-fermenting preservative

Acrylic

• 50 g to 80 g acrylic binding medium
• 1 g anti-fermenting preservative
• 5 g to 20 g water if needed

Vinyl Colors

• 40 g to 50 g Caparol binder
• 5 g to 15 g water if needed
• 1 g anti-fermenting preservative

Oil Pastels

• 30 g to 40 g beeswax or mineral oil
• 15 g to 25 g oil, Vaseline, or non-drying petroleum oil

Soft Pastels

• 80 g to 90 g pure pigment
• 2 g to 3 g gum tragacanth, glucose, gum arabic, or dextrin + water
• 1 g anti-fermenting preservative