Glair:
A binder for making paint. Egg whites are separated from yolks and beaten to stiff peaks.
The beaten whites are allowed to stand for a day, or over night, until a yellow liquid separates out
collecting under the spent white. Decant the liquid and discard the white.
Gum Arabic:
A binder for making paint. Historically gums from a number of trees were used for
making Paint. Gum Arabic, from the acacia A. senegal of Northern Africa, was and still is the
preferred choice. The gum dries into amber colored lumps; these are crushed and dissolved in
water at a ratio of two parts water to one part gum by volume. Allow the solution to sit a day
to ensure a complete dissolve. Strain the debris out through cheesecloth.
Gum arabic is available today in powered form. Add one part powered gum to four parts water.
Allow to sit and refine itself for a day or more, strain.
Gum arabic solution is sold art supply stores but it contains additives and the solution would be
hard to judge, it is not intended for paint making.
Paint:
Dry ground artists pigment should be combined with water and ground to form a paste.
This can be done on a slab or with a mortar and pestle. It is important to get a smooth paste;
the amount of water will vary with each pigment. The paste should be of the consistence of oil paint
in from a tube. This is “Pigment Paste.” Paint is made by mixing pigment paste with a binder
(gum or glair) at a ratio of 1 to 1.
A small amount of sugar or honey is usually added as a plasticizer.
1 part pigment paste + 1 part binder + ¼ part sugar or honey = paint
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