What materials we utilise in our creative expression is important. If you make some pottery, for example, it will have value, depending on how much energy you put into the creation--it will have more spirit than say a piece of pottery that came from ikea. Now, if you dig up the clay yourself from the ground, so much the better. Modern paint roll off an assembly line. Many of the pigments and binders are petro products. I've been looking into this for a long time, but so far have yet to find a definative resource for home-made paints. I am finding many scattered and limited sources for info, and looks like I shall have to cobble together wisdoms from various locales, and experiment. I'll post the results when I start to have them, but anyone got any help, any personal experience?
also try home made dye...i know you can get a really nice orange out of onion skins..it is used to naturally dye wool...good luck
Thanks. Yes I am finding a lot about natural dyes: http://www.womenofthefurtrade.com/wst_page18.html And a bit about natural paint--but most of this info is lacking in natural pigment options: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2006-10-01/Make-Safe-Natural-Paint.aspx So....I make whey based, or lime based or flour based paints, using berries, onion skins, flower petals ect as the pigments, the whey, lime or whatever as the binder, clay as the filler.... Basicly combining the info from the two websites listed above. 1) why reinvent the wheel? Someone must have preserved this knowlege, somewhere. I'll do trial and error, but really, it shouldn't be ALL trial and error--people have done this before. 2) I'd like my work to be archival. Berries and onion skins might be great for dying a shirt....but when mixed into paint they often dull over the years. I am astounded and flabbergasted that there is such a lack of info available. When I figure this out, I just may have to start a website about it. One tip: charcoal from your fireplace or camp fire works much similiar to the charcoal you by at the art supply store. Peace
sometime when Im out in the woods doing some nature hike, tripping .. nude walk .. I might take some Copinous comatose (aka Ink Cap mushroom and paint myself with it.. Cant wait til spring. There are other plants that have pigment and dyes, many colorful plants can be broken down into dyes: adding water or a solvent- note some solvents are organic. like Alcohol ..
Word. I forgot to mention stone. Cast iron mortar and pestel, grind up a stone of any given color and I'd reckon you've got some powdered pigment, ready to be mixed with whatever binder is being utilised. I speculate, but mineral sources definately bare some exploration.
i remember seeing a dude that painted with coffee here,some examples http://www.justcoffeeart.com/wild_chimp.html
I've found ink berries a pleasure to work with, dilluted with varying amounts of water or evaporated to varying densities, I've attained many shades and varieties of my favourite colour, which is pourple. Then I learnt that ink berry is non archival, in just a few years it will dull. Coffee is great and that person does great work. Acid_tripz, what is so random? Far as I've seen everyone has been on topic, and I appreciate the communications shared.
