NATIONAL ART MATERIALS DISCUSSES THE PLEASURES OF PIGMENTS
You may be familiar with painting with colours out of a ready-to-use tube. But there is another option. We explain how easy it is to mix your own colours using the Fragonard range of pigments from Pébéo.
Any artist with a passion for traditional craftmanship or greater creative control will know that mixing your own colours using dry ground pigments offers an exciting extension to the creative process.
Pigments are the heart of all colour. The range of 30 Fragonard mono pigments from Pébéo offers you the opportunity to make your own colours. Mono pigments are purer than those made by mixing two or more colours; therefore bright and clean colours are always guaranteed without the risk of obtaining dirty greys.
Making colours with pigments is simple. Because Fragonard pigments are preground into a fine powder, colour preparation does not require any special equipment. All you’ll need is a brush or palette knife. It is quick and easy to do; however, some pigments are coarser and harder than others and need to be ground for longer.
To make your colours, you need pigments and the Fragonard pigment binder which corresponds to the paint you want to obtain – oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolour or wax. Pigments need to be mixed with a binder to become a paint. The binder helps to ‘lock in’ the colour; acts as an adhesive between the colour and ground; and can enhance the depth and tone of the pigment. Depending on the technique, the paste consistency will be different.
The proportions depend on the quantity of colour desired, its consistency and intensity. It is recommended to start with small quantities of pigment and then sprinkle the pigment on the binder. This technique is used to work as cleanly as possible and to avoid obtaining clusters. You can also use a range of Fragonard grinding binders to help the pigment particles dilute into the binder. This paste can be used as it is or mixed with other auxiliaries.
The Fragonard watercolour binder from Pébéo allows for the exact reproduction of the consistency and composition of watercolours found in tubes or half-pans. The prepared paste with the watercolour binder is ready to use as many times as necessary by diluting it with water.
It is recommended to have an empty watercolour box to store your colours.
The Fragonard gouache binder from Pébéo allows for the exact reproduction of the consistency and composition of gouache found in tubes. The prepared paste can be diluted with water and has the opacity and matt characteristics of gouache.
The Fragonard acrylic and oil binders from Pébéo, mixed with the pigments, will result in a colour of rather fluid consistency – which eases the mixing process between the pigment and binder. If necessary, the viscosity of the colour can be obtained by adding coating medium.
Acrylic: For a medium consistency paste, pigments plus acrylic grinding binder plus Bindex; for a thick consistency paste, pigments plus acrylic grinding binder plus matt or gloss gel; for an even thicker paste, pigments plus acrylic grinding binder plus heavy gel.
Oil: For a medium consistency paste, pigments plus oil grinding binder plus Fragonard gel medium; for a thick consistency paste, pigments plus oil grinding binder plus Dutch or Florentine medium; for a thicker consistency paste, pigments plus oil grinding binder plus heavy gel; for an even thicker paste, pigments plus oil grinding binder plus coating medium.
Bees wax diluted with turpentine and mixed with pigments gives a matt paste that is perfect to apply with a painting knife. Fragonard’s synthetic bees wax from Pébéo is guaranteed to be pure. The encaustic technique consists of heating the wax and then mixing the pigments with the hot paste. The pigments diffuse quickly in the hot wax.
Fragonard pigments and binders are available at selected art materials retailers.
For more information or the location of your nearest stockist, please visit www.nationalart.com.au or contact National Art Materials by telephone on 03 9720 3322.