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Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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You do not normally use gum arabic for washes. You need to use gum arabic if you want the paint to stay put and not spread. If you want the reverse effect and want the paint to spread (wet into wet) then use glycerine. But neither are essential. Regarding quantities, use a drop at a time and do some experiments with varying amounts to see the difference.

Michael Robinson

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Gum arabic makes the pigment in water colours look brighter and glossier. I bought some when I was reading a text book on how to use water colours, I used it once and never bothered with it again. I think that for the average water colour, there's no need to add gum arabic, there's some already present in the colours anyway.
michael

Michael Edwards

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Well I have a bottle of the stuff and only tried it once - not worth the effort. The contents of the bottle look a little dubious after all these years - think I'll chuck it out on my next tidy up.
michael

Michael Edwards

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On second thoughts I might give one last go - you never know.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Not primarily a water-colourist, so don't take this as gospel despite my dubiously proclaimed expert status, but - I've never used gum arabic, and I don't see any reason to do so; who, I wonder, told you to use it?  If you can't get the results you want with colour and water, and want a richer medium - well, I should try that richer medium.  Maybe acrylics?  <div> </div><div>I also loathe masking fluid with watercolour, and most additives and enhancers in other media: if Turner didn't use it, and didn't need it, then that's good enough for me: I don't need it either.  </div>

Ken Gillam

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As said previously Gum Arabic can be used to control the flow, if you want washes to flow then add a little Ox-Gall to the water.

Syd Edward

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Philipo - 2013-11-24 1:15 PM Hello everyone I have been told to use Gum Arabic when doing watercolour washes and as a struggling newbie to the world of watercolour I am wondering how much Gum Arabic you need to put in the water and also is there any pitfalls I need to watch out for. Philipo
Philipo.......just use water and forget about additives.The colour manufacturers have added all you need to paint in watercolours.the person who told you to use gum arabic is possibly hooked on the stuff and is now unable to paint without adding he magic potion. so go to it and have fun painting with Water Only !.......cheers, Syd

Syd Edward

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Is there now an avalanche of pictures defending on the Gallery or has that always been the case? I am posting pics. on the gallery in late morning and they have been usurped by early afternoon so what's the use of going to the trouble of posting. maybe my fellow forumists have found that out already as postings seem to me to be very scarce or are they just getting on painting and not bothering with posting on the crowded Gallery.Anyway that's my decision now, I have shown my work and had only the kindest of comments for which I thank you all.Time for some more paintinnow. errata....defending .....substitute....descending