Pigments

 

I enjoy using pigments extracted from rocks, root and berries, partly because I like to make my own art materials and partly beauuse I think the natural colours have a subtle beauty of their own. I bind the dry pigments with either gum Arabic, to form a watercolour, or egg – traditional egg tempera.

 

Extracting natural pigments by Toni Watts

 

 

The industrial revolution resulted in the discovery and manufacture of a vast range of vibrant, lightfast pigments.

 

Modern Pigments

 

These pigments can also be bound with gum or egg. However, I sometimes use modern paint formulations in my contemporary work. Both Daniel Smith and Winsor and Newton produce a good range of watercolour in tubes and half pans. I especially enjoy watercolours that granulate.