Alternatives to honey in making WC paints

[freedda]

I am not a watercolor artists, but I have made my own etching inks. I now have a recipe for makiing WC paints and I want to try it.

One of the ingredients listed is honey, which I believe is to make the pigment powder disperse more evenly or smoothly throughout the WC medium. (And perhaps it as other uses?)

A WC artist friend says she doesn’t like to use WCs made with honey because they dry too slowly, so ….

Q; what are some good alternatives or replacements for honey when making WCs? Or can I just leave the honey out – as long as I make sure the dry pigments are mixed / dispersed throughout the medium?

I’ve heard that corn syrup or other sugary substances are used instead of honey, but I’m assuming these have the same drying time issues as honey?

Any other suggested tips for making homemade watercolor paints?

Regards, David.

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

Some honey-based watercolours can be a pain, I have some M.Graham which is so runny it is difficult to keep it in the palette. I think the honey is there to absorb moisture and keep the paints from drying up.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[freedda]

Yorky Administrator Ormskirk wrote:

Some honey-based watercolours can be a pain … I think the honey is there to absorb moisture and keep the paints from drying up. Doug

Is this what you ‘think’ honey might possibly do in the paint – or do you know this to be true?

I ask because I’ve read that it’s the Glycerin in the recipe that makes paint more flexible, (a plasticizer) and keeps the paint wet longer, both on the palette and in the tube.

Since honey is only 10% or so of the recipe, I don’t think of this paint as being “honey-based”. And I don’t know if WCs without honey have another ingredient which serves the same purpose or not. That’s what I want to find out.

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

Just a theory. D0 a Google on why is honey in watercolor paint?

“Honey allows high pigment loads and contributes to smooth washes. “Honey draws moisture from the air so our color always remains moist (sticky) in the watercolor palette even when exposed to open air year around. It does not get rock hard on the palette or in the tube like other brands”

“How much honey do you put in watercolor?

Start with a ratio of 1 part Gum/Honey to 1 part pigment paste and adjust as necessary. Mix all the ingredients and work them on a glass plate using a paint spatula. Your goal is to obtain a paste with a thick, creamy consistency. Some pigments will incorporate easier than others.”

etc.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[ilya K]

Gum arabic is also a traditional component:

https://www.kremer-pigmente.com/en/information/recipes/watercolor-based-on-gum-arabic/

https://www.kremer-pigmente.com/en/information/recipes/watercolor-medium/

Ilya K
C&C always welcome

[truckermaster]

Hey art enthusiasts! If you’re looking for alternatives to honey in making watercolor paints, consider trying beet root powder. It can provide a natural pigment and works well as a binder. Just mix it with water to achieve desired consistency. You can find beet powder online or at local specialty stores. Get creative and explore the colorful possibilities! Happy painting! ?✨

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

That’s unusual, are you talking white beets? Ours are red.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[Author]

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