PAINT MAKING
There is quite an emphasis on paint making at Old Mill Arts. A creative practice that has tens of thousands of years of historical ancestry all the way through to the present day. We explore a variety of different mediums using mainly foraged and found pigments alongside some other historical colours. This includes the making of watercolours and gouache, egg tempera and glair, clay and chalk paint.
The practice of pigment preparation and paint making is very involved but also very rewarding and connecting. If they are made of local pigments this results in a selection of paints that reflects the landscape of a particular place.
Photo by Kim Ayres
Using various binders, we achieve paints used for a differing of purposes. This allows for paint to be made for looser mark making and larger surface areas, as well as water and oil based paints and traditional paints such as egg tempura.
Paints with added body are helpful for people who enjoy texture, and knowing this process allows for experimentation with found colour sources. In this workshop, the brown was achieved with soil from the garden. Un-sieved, it had a beautiful and fun texture.
Using a range of pigments, a wide palette can be achieved from earth colours, to plant colours and historical pigments such as french ultra marine.
A place specific paint was made for this workshop using daffodils and the lake pigment process. It produced a vibrant yellow and the paint was thickened using a wheat starch paste.
Have a look at our workshop program to find any upcoming paint making workshops. If not, let us know you would like to attend one and we can let you know when the next is planned.