Back

Recipe: Watercolor based on Gum Arabic

Gum Arabic is often used as a binder for watercolors because it dissolves easily in water. This natural gum is usually collected from various species of the North African acacia tree. Gum Arabic is a pale white to orange-brown solid, which breaks with a glassy fracture.

Processing

Pieces of Gum Arabic (#63300) can contain natural impurities, so the gum solution should be filtered. Another possibility is to put the pieces into tights and dissolve them in there, which will hold back the impurities while only the gum arabic will go into solution. Stir the gum arabic into cold water, then put it into a bain-marie. Stir occasionally until the gum arabic has completely dissolved. Gum arabic powder (#63330) will dissolve faster, but has to be stirred thoroughly in order to prevent lumps! Gum arabic will also dissolve in cold water but this may take 2-3 days. Gum arabic solutions spoil easily and should be stored in a refrigerator. The solution’s durability can be enhanced by adding preservatives, such as a drop of Clove Oil (#73700), Biodocarb (#78744), or Preventol® (#78740). Step 1#807: Pieces of Gum Arabic (#63300) can contain natural impurities, so the gum solution should be filtered. Another possibility is to put the pieces into tights and dissolve them in there, which will hold back the impurities while only the gum arabic will go into solution. Stir the gum arabic into cold water, then put it into a bain-marie. Stir occasionally until the gum arabic has completely dissolved. Gum arabic powder (#63330) will dissolve faster, but has to be stirred thoroughly in order to prevent lumps! Gum arabic will also dissolve in cold water but this may take 2-3 days. Gum arabic solutions spoil easily and should be stored in a refrigerator. The solution’s durability can be enhanced by adding preservatives, such as a drop of Clove Oil (#73700), Biodocarb (#78744), or Preventol® (#78740).
For watercolor paint, mix the gum arabic solution with color paste or grind it with a pigment powder until it is a smooth, lump-free paste. Step 2#139: For watercolor paint, mix the gum arabic solution with color paste or grind it with a pigment powder until it is a smooth, lump-free paste.
The paint may be diluted with water as required. Step 3#48: The paint may be diluted with water as required.

Ingredients

1 part(s) Gum Arabic Pale, pieces (#63300)
Alternative:
Gum Arabic, granules (#63322)
Gum Arabic Powder (#63330)
2 part(s) Water (#65000)
all color pastes or suitable pigments
Cooking pot
Heat-resistant pot
mortar and pestle, or medium size glass muller and glass palette

Additional Information

Pigment suitability lists

Note

Since pigments may vary considerably in terms of the amount of binder required, abrasion resistance should be checked before application by first applying the paint on a small area only or by applying a test coat. This will also help to find out whether or not the paint contains enough binding medium: If the painted surface shows chalking (that is the formation of fine powder on the surface of the paint film) when it is dry, it is necessary to add more binding medium. If the paint is brittle and shows cracks on the surface, it contains too much gum arabic. If you want to keep the paint in pans, it is necessary to add further additives to the mixture, such as honey, sugar or glycerol (#64900). This keeps the paint more flexible, avoids cracking and it will help to dissolve it in water. Fill the watercolor paste into pans in thin layers. Wait until one layer is thoroughly dry before adding the next one. In order to prevent paint cracking.

We assume no liability for the processing instructions described above. In any case, we recommend the production and evaluation of sample surfaces.

Product list