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David Perry

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Posted
The 'they' being the makers, of course. I am particularly interested in water colour pigments, though I susspect the difference between oil, acrylic and water colour is simply the binder and maybe something else I can't predict. The basic dies are a chemists dream, or a mineralogists I guess, but I wonder quite how someone like W and N actually turn a pile of blue lapiz into a nice paint? Ive had a google but drawn a blank...is there a website anyone knows of, or a paper? David

Sylvia Evans

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Posted
I think I would Google that one . Or even e mail thr paint manufacturers .

David Perry

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Posted
Thanks, Ill revisit Google. Ive been mining the rich strata known as articles, tips and advice on this site this afternoon...oh I know so little. As for grinding up beatles and prime ministers to paint yellow submarines and green parties, no thanks...I'll stick to the common suppliers. David
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Posted
Cochineal is the red beetle, I believe, but I have not done it personally. The natural dye brigade can inform on the source of many pigments. I've sen a yellow ochre mining site near Wick near Bristol. I'm sure you could even find a woad plant if you really wanted to paint your self blue.

Dippy Dipper

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Posted
First they find the right coloured butterfly. Then they gently scrape the scales from the wings - it takes 100 000 butterflies to make a single tube of colour (that's why they are so expensive) After they have enough scales collected they pound them in a mortar and pestle, reducing them to a dusty-part-paste. To this they add ground up slugs (for the gelling properties) This coloured gummy paste is now sucked into tubes and the ends rolled and sealed. All ready for you to use... at just £1200 per tube... gauranteed to (butter)fly from the shelves.