How to Make Paint

We've all used it, but have you ever wondered how to make paint?

Painting used to be a very natural process...adding egg and water to natural, locally found, pigments from plants and minerals, even dirt from the ground!

At home, you can create your own paints with materials you find by mixing any 'pigment' (powder) with gum arabic - a thickener available from art and craft shops.

1. Collect your pigment - try using chalk dust, talc, paprika, turmeric, chilli powder etc.


2. Add a little bit of gum arabic to the powder and mix to a paste


3. Thin with water to use, or let it harden and use later by re-mixing with a wet brush

Use your imagination and experiment, see what you can find to paint with! Grind materials down with a pestle and mortar or a plastic bag and a rolling pin, as fine as you can get it.

Try using your paints on various surfaces - make a card with your paints and then you can proudly tell the recipient all about how to make paint aswell