How I made my Watercolor Paint

[@JudiChristopher]

EXCELLENT VIDEO Thank YOU for sharing this

[@Prettypages71]

Thank you for sharing. This is rather informative and fun to watch. 💖🤗

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks, I was a bit worried it would be a bit boring!😁 lot of talking, glad to know it is useful!👍🏻

[@Prettypages71]

@@wendyscolouring no it wasn’t boring at all. In fact, I’ve shared your video. 💖🤗

[@wendyscolouring]

@@Prettypages71 Aaaah, thanks, x

[@elliemcgeeart]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing.

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks Pixie, x so pleased you’ve found it helpful!❤️

[@SusanWymolaArtrepreneur]

Thank You for linking some of your supplies so it's easier to figure out what I need. I never intended to make my own metallic watercolors but I see no reason why Not to. I really enjoy listening and watching your videos.

[@wendyscolouring]

You are so welcome, there are loads of mica sets on Amazon, just check the weight of the jars, some are bigger than others. Its very easy to do, but it is time consuming. I found it easier leaving it all out somewhere, so when you come to making the second/third layer of the paint, all the stuff is still the same. ( Its very easy to get the powers mixed up with each other) I do advise a good mask though, its not stuff you want to be breathing in. I've been delighted with some of the paint I've made, and it has saved me money, it means I use much less of the more expensive etsy ones, as I use mine as a base. Feel free to ask if you have any more questions about it. xx ❤️👍

[@supme7558]

Mica powder of choice . arabic powder

[@Harkart59]

Love learning new things like this. Thank you so much for taking the time and using supplies to show this technique. Really enjoyed it.🤩

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks so much, really pleased you’ve found it useful!💕

[@pattismith6047]

I'm going to give this a go, thank you for the clear easy steps

[@wendyscolouring]

Oh super, hope it works out for you, 👍🤞❤️ I enjoying making mine, its not quick, and is very messy, but I like knowing I can make them for far less money than you buy them for. 👍

[@joburrow9863]

Thank you so much. I have really learned so much from your video. Jo Burrow, North Carolina, USA

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks so much Jo, its lovely to hear this was useful to you, video's like this do take quite a bit of time, so its good to know people are finding it helpful. I always worry my videos like this are a bit boring to watch, as I'm not much of a chatter. Thank you, x 👍❤️

[@katjastar3621]

thanks a lot

[@Sonora-ij8bc]

Great video, thanks. In order to stop your glass plate moving around when grinding the paint, you could stick 4 of those black plastic magnets for the pans on the bottom.

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks so much, I think someone also suggested Bluetak, oddly enough I hadn't actually noticed it moving much at the time, but I guess it must have been as so many folks have mentioned it! thanks for the suggestion, x 👍

[@x8jersey8x]

If you put blue tak between the table and the glass it wouldn't move as much 😊❤

[@wendyscolouring]

Good plan, I'll have to get hold of some for next time I make some paint, x 👍

[@heathers_colorpalooza8789]

Great video. Thanks so much for sharing. This was very informative and helpful.

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks so much for saying so❤️ I really wasn’t sure this wasn’t too chatty, so glad it’s been interesting.👍🏻

[@TeresaWyatt-qm2hc]

Thank you for showing this because the reason I started watercolor is because it's affordable but the hand made I used to be a makeup artist and I have tons and tons of eyeshadow that I can use so I appreciate it

[@wendyscolouring]

Oh yes, eyeshadow should work well, I'd bet you have some super colours you could use as well.👍

[@AxlPlasters]

I'm so inspired by you and your work to make watercolors, I'll try it too

[@wendyscolouring]

Oh super, I hope it’s successful for you. X 👍🏻

[@KatWoman_]

Interesting and well-explained.

[@wendyscolouring]

Super, Glad you found it helpful, x 👍

[@Beecosy]

Thank you :)

[@jodiecrocker6676]

Amazon has a 109 pc with the glass slab glass muller paint knife’s magnets tin and the things to put the paint in and it’s only $27.89 and another one same 109pc for $47.89

[@wendyscolouring]

Aaah right, I've not noticed that on Uk, but it sounds like a good idea, if you want to give it a try, x 👍❤️

[@JudiChristopher]

WOW... That is GREAT Thank YOU so much for sharing that info.

[@JudiChristopher]

What do I "TYPE" in to get this set? What do you call this set?

[@izabellan9706]

Thank you Wendy you for showing how to do it. I have a lot of makeup powders that I want to use for this purpose. I will try with a side of a jar as my paint muller and see how it goes. 😀

[@wendyscolouring]

You are so welcome! Really pleased you found it helpful, x Its easy, it's just time consuming and messy! Makeup powders should work well, 👍

[@supme7558]

Most dont even need mulling you will be fine especially maycup grade

[@windywednesday4166]

I love it that you walked us through the whole process! ❤ There's nothing like watching somebody do this for really learning. I understand this process much better now.

[@wendyscolouring]

Oh super, I'm glad it was useful to you. I watched a few videos myself when I was trying to learn, and I didn't find many that were helpful. It's an easy process really, it's just messy and time consuming. x👍

[@Bigheartrolling]

This was a great video. Thank you!

[@wendyscolouring]

Glad you enjoyed it!👍

[@moosedawg71]

I wonder if your silvers come out darker because the one you purchased has maybe some type of white base in it rather than just the silver mica? Same with the reds, maybe needs more red pigment in them in addition to the mica to be a more true red.

[@wendyscolouring]

Hmm, perhaps, I have seen some silver mica's separately on Amazon, so I'm thinking perhaps the silver colour is just a bit more pricey, so they aren't in the mixed packs I was buying. I keep meaning to order some more and see. I'm not sure a true red is possible with Mica, even the etsy sellers don't seem to stock much true red, unless it has a lot of glitter in it, so maybe it just isn't possible.?? Thanks for watching my attempts! 😉👍

[@supme7558]

Yes thats why i use mica not mica pigments ..what that is is pigments with mica in it just get the pure mica unless you are wanting the color pigment to i have plenty of color water color paints what i want is the mica paint hope that helps i found out the long way years ago

[@shellyt2906]

Such a good video👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 thank you for making this video. I do want to try this as my budget will not allow me to purchase all the colors that I want 😜. I am so happy I found your channel 💛❤️😍🤗🥰

[@wendyscolouring]

Oh super, really glad its helpful👍 I was the same, really wanted a big palette of many colours, but didn't want to spend that much money. Good luck with it, would love to see them if you make them. 👍

[@kimcuervo2905]

You are such a great teacher. 5his video is very informative and easy to follow. If you don't mind, where did you get that little metal scoop/spoon you use to scoop the mica?

[@wendyscolouring]

Aaah Thanks so much, xx 👍👍 I try! ❤️ I think it came with one of the mica packs I bought, you might be able to see one in Resin making kits? Or you might find you get one with the Mica. ( sorry I know that not much help!) xx Good luck with it, xx

[@gagaforgluing8247]

Im so happy i went through your videos and found this, i was gonna ask you to make a video doing this. Its very interesting. Would you ever sell any of your paints? I would buy some off you xxx

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks Trudy, x ❤️ I don't plan to sell them really, it's very time consuming making them by hand, and I just don't have the time to do it. Perhaps if I wasn't working I'd consider it, but as it is, I struggle to get as much colouring done as I'd like. I only tried to make them really as I wanted a larger selection of colours, ( I kept seeing that huge palette that Kj Designs make) but didn't want to pay the Etsy prices, so I watched a few video's and did some reading to see how easy/hard it was. It's easy really, just very messy, and takes quite a while. It's was much cheaper to make them, and I know now whenever I start running down, I can just re-make. Glad it was interesting to you, x👍🫶🏻

[@GlitzyWitch]

Brilliant tutorial, thank you ❤

[@wendyscolouring]

So glad it was helpful!👍❤️

[@samanthanicholson9015]

So you make the gum arabic keep it in fridge, add it whenever you need to make a new color? I see you didn't add any additional water, which seems helpful if you don't need to Wait to dry it. Thanks let me know what amount if mica to your base, it be helpful and appreciated. Sam

[@wendyscolouring]

Yes, keep the gum in a sealed container, so you don't change the mix by loosing water, but yes it's fine to keep for quite a while if kept in there. I don't add any extra water, as I will have measured the water when making it up originally. I don't weight the mica, as I'm only making small amounts, generally I use half of whatever amount of the mica I have, saving the other half to top up the pans. I add the gum arabic by eye, based on the consistency I'm getting, but generally like when baking, add a small amount, then build as needed. You don't want to end up with a mix that has too much gum to mica, so less is more. Some people make up all the mica into paint, then add it to a small bottle to keep air tight, so when the first half of the pan has dried out, you can add more from the bottle straight away, with out having to re-mix, but as I only make very small amounts, I never tried this way. ( I suppose generally I'm probably using about 2&1/2 grams of mica, as most of my mica packs are 5 gram bags/tubes, (if that helps) xx

[@samanthanicholson9015]

@@wendyscolouring I found out it's 1:1 does that sound right, base to color. I seen somewhere say two parts color one part medium. I seen video earlier said 9 parts base I think no.... Did you add honey or glycerin or clove oil? I keep seeing recipes say ox gall or something like that, if you don't mind sharing diy info? I realized I put too much of honey or glycerin. Yesterday I made a small batch like a tablespoon or two worth of base and water, this morning I added one tsp glycerin and 1/4 tsp honey stirring and it looked great after I filled on make up pan full of water color.

[@wendyscolouring]

@@samanthanicholson9015 I use honey, but only very small amounts. I’ve never used glycerin, or clove oil, so I can’t help there. Too much honey makes the paint sticky on the page when using, so always test your paint on paper before filling a pan. Get the paint dry on the paper and check is it too sticky, or not sticky enough, (not holding the mica to the page) . The more you play and test, the more you will start to understand what’s needed. I messed up a few before I got the mix right for the mica I was using.

[@samanthanicholson9015]

@@wendyscolouring would you be able to share a recipe for what works mine seem to be all over the place.

[@supme7558]

She just eys balling. It's not a sience kinda like a pinch of salt kinda thing

[@nicolemitchell446]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I think I’ll just buy bigger pans though and not bother topping them up 😂 I kind of like the bigger pans half filled like the kuretaki tansi gambi (that’s not how you spell it is it 🤦‍♀️🤣)

[@wendyscolouring]

Great idea👍 The larger pans are easier to work with, Id imagine they will be a bit tricker to get hold off, I've never actually looked for them, x

[@forevercreating]

Thank you! I was wondering, is the Winsor & Newton just as good as the home made? and do you add honey to Winsor? Kind Regards.

[@wendyscolouring]

Yes, I honestly cant tell the difference between the two in the finished paints, making my own has made no difference to the quality. Yes I added honey to both types👍.

[@AuroraDragonDesigns]

Thank you for sharing. I have been using LuminArte Twinkling H2Os [fantastic watercolors). However, they went out of business in 2009, so when they run out, I need a way to create my own. I do a lot of resin pieces, so I have a ton of mica powders. Have you done this with colorshift mica? If so, did they come out nice?

[@wendyscolouring]

Hiya, Oh yes, if you have mica already, it's a great way to use it. ( You'll use a lot more than you probably use in resin though) I've tried a few different Chameleon labeled mica's from Amazon, some were lovely, a few were a bit boring, but it depends what colours you paint them over. ( some show up better over black, than white) I had a few really lovely blue ones, that would have cost me a pretty penny if I'd bought them from Etsy. The more expensive micas, do make better paints. ( sadly!😉)xx

[@supme7558]

I have its the same worjs great ..i found i dont what mica pigments just pure mica in what ever color both make great paint but one is full of extra pigments and one just adds the mica so o can use on any color

[@DoodlydooDoodles]

Thank you for showing the whole process, without skipping the boring bits, lol. It helps to see how long it takes to grind, etc. I’m excited to try making some paints myself! Side note: your nails are very beautiful - you should be a hand model!

[@supme7558]

These powders are already milled, so not the same process of milling paint she ould have skipped that step and just mixed it real well ..really thats all she did

[@wendyscolouring]

Thanks so much, its so great to know this video is still useful to folks, even years after I've made it, x ❤️ The hands get a rough time in the classroom, I doubt they would want me with paint stained nails!😂 It's sound like a great job though! If only! 👍

[@wendyscolouring]

The milling of these powders is quite mixed, some certainly don't need too much, but I have had a few that have been quite gritty, and certainly do need more work. It's quicker not to mill, but it's a risk. 👍

[@M0odyBlue]

Hi, have you ever used glycerin instead of honey? And have you ever tried to make your own chameleon mixes or granulating pigments? How do you store the paint that’s mixed and mulled while waiting to layer your paints into the pans? Thank you for this video. I have a paint mixing set coming from Amazon. Can’t wait to try!

[@wendyscolouring]

Hiya, no I haven’t tried Glycerin, I’ve only used the honey, I never thought to try it I suppose. I’ve tried Chameleon paints, they are made the same, it’s just the -mica required is harder/more expensive to get. There are some chameleon mica sets on Amazon, they do make some interesting paints. I’ve not tried granulating, I don’t know how to do that. I normally only made enough paint for the first layer and remake the same colour for the second layer. I suppose you could try to store it some how, and add once the first layer is dry. I made quite a few pans of each colour, and have given them away as gifts, so it worked for me just re-making the same colour. I’m guessing as long as it’s airtight it should stay liquid and you could layer in a week. As I wasn’t making huge amounts, it would have been too small amounts to store really. Hth, x

[@M0odyBlue]

@@wendyscolouring Thanks so much for the response. I watched a video on YT, where the person ground up small rocks to create granulation, but if you can get the same effect with a black granulating pigment, it seems easier. I fell down this rabbit hole because I bought a large amount of micas, cheap, at an art group’s sale of pre used items. I didn’t buy the muller, because I had no idea what it was or what it was used for. Consequently, I am now going to try, with the help of your video and others like it. I want to try the real manganese blue and maybe Ymin, if I can get it right.

[@supme7558]

​@@M0odyBlueonly factor that matters is are the pure mica powder or are the mica pigments aka the extra color pigment powder plus mica mixed like some of tge mica pigment powders i have the color of the powder is say dark blue but the metallic mica is goldish but like pure mica looks greyish or white but once i paint its got green opalesence shifts to a pink color one i have id milticrome so it looks blue and shifts to a pinkish purple ..i hope this helps at all i had to find out by trial and error 🙃

[@missfi1000]

Around about how many grams of mica to make 1 pan? I want to buy the expensive chameleon powder and need to know how mich for 1 pan. I can't afford to buy too much more than needed. As the top quality one's are very very expensive per gram

[@wendyscolouring]

I generally buy 5gms, and you can make a couple of pans from that much. Sorry I've taken so long to reply, x

[@pennycandyys]

Have you tested for lightfastness by any chance? I suppose it depends where you get your pigment from?

[@wendyscolouring]

Hiya, No I've not tested them at all, I'm using them mainly in books, so their lightfastness, isn't important to me. I'd imagine they will be ok, as mica is ground rock, so I doubt it will be very likely to have an issue with the sun. As they are pretty reflective, i'd guess they will rebound the rays rather than absorb? But yes, I'm guessing, I've done no real testing, sorry, x 👍🙏

[@pennycandyys]

@@wendyscolouring That's okay, thank you!

[@makokoro9073]

Isn't it too dry? I saw a video in which a girl made her watercolors and when she was grinding the mixture, it would slide easily, then when she was filling the pans she used the spatula to drop the watercolor into them.

[@wendyscolouring]

@@makokoro9073 Hiya, you can add more water to the mix, then yes, it will move more freely, and it’s a bit easier to fill the pan. I live in the U.K., and it’s pretty rainy were I am, so adding more water means my pans will take much longer to dry out and I found I get more air pockets with more water. It’s personal choice, I’d try it and see which way works for you.

[@makokoro9073]

@@wendyscolouring I was saying, cause I noticed you kinda were having a hard time filling the pans. By the way, you have beautiful nails.

[@wendyscolouring]

@@makokoro9073 thanks, x 😊

[@makokoro9073]

@@wendyscolouring you welcome

[@aussiegypsy62]

You said a good metal plate but that’s glass?

[@wendyscolouring]

Hiya, Gosh, this is an older video, I was still very nervous filming back then, so yes I might well have misspoke. You are correct, I do mean glass, I'd imagine a metal one would get quite scratched from the grinding process. Glass is what you want. Sorry! 👍

[@WatermelonPlayzzRoblox-lol]

That’s glass! You said metal?

[@wendyscolouring]

Yes, well spotted!😉 This was an early video of mine, probably not one of my best. I use a glass mat you are correct, 👍🏻

[@KobieK]

Manuka honey? That’s very expensive. I couldn’t use such premium honey knowing million of kids can’t even have simple bread

[@wendyscolouring]

Did you watch how much I use, it's a tiny drop. you could use that argument for anything in life, I won't buy a chair, because poor kids dont' have a chair. If you don't want to use honey in your paint, don't, it's that simple. I use Manuka as it has anti mould properties, it's not just to make it expensive.

[@KobieK]

@@wendyscolouring more like “I won’t buy a gold-plated chair …” I don’t think you get the point. You can put honey in your watercolour, just not the premium nutrients rich Manuka because I’m sure your paper won’t consume the nutrients to boost its immune system

[@qpMedley]

​@@KobieKInstead of telling other people to feel guilty for existing, why not donate to charity or volunteer to feed the hungry?

[@sewlouisa]

Someone not using expensive honey doesn’t suddenly give starving child bread on their plate

[@kai_sky_venturer8002]

@@KobieKhi! I recommend donating at least $100-200 dollars to legit charity or more each week so children can get fed. If you can donate that much that would be wonderful help ^^ it does a lot more than just words in a comment.