12 THE BASICS
What is watercolor?
Watercolor paint manufacture is a
complex process and involves mixing
color pigment and water with other
ingredients that include gum arabic,
glycerin, and sugar syrups, such as
honey. Gum arabic is a binder that
holds everything in suspension,
ensuring the pigment particles give
an even spread of color instead of
clumping together. Glycerin prevents
the dried paint from cracking, allowing
easier mixing and rewetting. Sugar
syrups act as a moisture retainer that
prevent the concentrated paint from
drying out too much. Some people think
that llers are added as an economy,
but the ller actually helps create the
buttery texture of tube watercolor
paint, and ensures the consistency
of the paint across a range.
Pans vs tubes
Traditional watercolor is available in
tubes or as semi-hard cakes known as
pans. They share identical pigments, are
used in a similar way, and can be mixed
together, but most artists prefer tubes.
Moist tube paint makes it easier and
quicker to create mixes, particularly
very dark or intense washes. To use
tube paint, simply squeeze into the
wells of a palette or paintbox and add
to water to achieve the desired intensity
of color. Tube paint left on a palette will
dry and harden, but can be rewetted.
You can use tubes to replenish depleted
pans in this way.
The pigment numbering system
Watercolor paint is labeled with
pigment numbers. This is a standard
system used worldwide and allows you
to check which pigments and how many
are in a particular paint. Confusingly,
Watercolor paint
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PIGMENTS
Watercolor paint is arguably the oldest painting medium. Natural earth
pigments mixed with water were used to produce crude but effective
painted images that, in some cases, have lasted for thousands of years.
Earth pigments are still used today, but modern chemistry has given
rise to a vast array of reliable, synthetic watercolor pigments that give
consistent results for contemporary artists to add to their palettes.
Lemon yellow
Yellow ocher
Cadmium red
Burnt sienna
Prussian blue
Sap green
Lamp black
Chinese white
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