How & Why To Use Pigments For Any Paint Project
Posted by Franziska on Mar 28, 2011 in Art, Blog, Green Stuff, Upcycling & DIY | 2 commentsToday, I did my oil paint inventory and decided to order my color online. While I always love to support my local art store here in the Dallas area, I decided to study a little more about pigments which my store does not carry.
You don’t have to be an artist to use paint, every one of us has used paint for inside and out house projects, walls, furniture, etc. But do you know the ingredients of the paint you are using? Most paints contain chemicals, artificial components and toxic fumes. As an artist, I am exposed to toxic fumes more than others, so I started my research and found a company that sells non-toxic pigments, mica powders and mediums. The site EarthPigments even includes recipes for all of your paint projects like
- plaster & cement
- paints & finishes
- artist’s colors
So what are the advantages?
- eco-friendly
- friendly to your own health
- friendly to your wallet -so much cheaper to make your own paint!
- vibrant colors
- the joy of creating natural colors
I also compared several companies in price range, service, user-friendly website, easy check-out, availability of colors, variety, shipping and general information. In general, EarthPigments was the best of what I have found.
As soon as my pigments arrive, I will write another post about pigments and its use. Have you used pigments before? What are your experiences with making your very own colors?
An anecdote: while I read all about color, pigments and how to mix paint, I thought of something that I wasn’t aware of before. My grandfather was born into a family (born 1886) that produced industrial oil paint for bridges and trains in Cologne. He had 12 sisters and brothers, so he decided to get away from the large family to start his own paint company in Karlsruhe, Germany. The company did extremely well until WW2 started. My grandfather did not join the NSDAP and therefore his company was shut down. After the war, he tried to activate his company again but had to close it in the 60s. I never met my grandfather but I grew up in his house, played on the property right next to the factory and now I am here experimenting with pigments producing my own paint. I feel him smiling at me 
Franziska,This is something completely new to me! I’ve not done much with painting (except the long-ago finger paints as a child!), and it didn’t occur to me to think about what’s in paint. But if I were to have painting done in my home, I would want to know, and I’d want ecological benefits.
Loved the story about your grandfather. It’s amazing how family themes can work their ways down the generations, often unconsciously.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com/blog/
Balance, Boundaries, and New Life Directions Through Writing
Judy Stone-Goldman recently posted..Haven’t I Read This Before Recurring Themes in Writing and Life
Hi Judy,
funny enough, me neither, never thought about it too much until now. I am going to experiment around a little and see in the future whether I will buy paint form a store or not. Might really be a better idea to make it yourself. With the recipes on the EarthPigments website, it shouldn’t be too complicated.
And the story about my grandfather: many Germans suffered from the Nazis, too; my Dad told me that his father had to hide in churches more than once because he had a big mouth and provoked them a lot.. I guess I inherited mixing paint from him and I was told that I am very similar to him (saying what I think).
Thanks for commenting
Franziska