Art Fun Cheap

Sometimes you want more than the normal flat watercolor or acrylic colors. Daniel Smith, for example, offers lovely interference (changeable, depending on angle of view), metallic, and irridescent/pearly colors. But what if you just want to try such colors without investing in professional-quality paints?

You can buy inexpensive ones. Or you can make your own. Interested?

Colorific Glitter Watercolors

Colorific Glitter Watercolors come in a (surprise!) glittery plastic case with the same removable, rearrangeable pans and natural bristle brush that make the bigger Colorific set such a great value. I found them at Texas Art Supply for only $3.36

Colorific Metallic Watercolors

Colorific Metallic Watercolors look like the expensive, hobbyist brands with cute names that are made with mica powders. Yet they are inexpensive. Texas Art Supply sells them for $3.36.

Prang also makes metallic watercolors, and their price is almost as low.

Making Metallic or Irridescent Watercolors

You can easily mix PearlEx or other fine mica powders into whatever watercolors you have to create interference (changeable) colors, irridescence, or metallic effects. If you can only buy one, I suggest getting the plain Pearl. However, the sampler sets with several (or many) small containers of different colors are the best buy.

You need only a tiny amount of mica powder to get the effect. It works far better with transparent colors than semiopaque colors. For opaque colors, you may want to try brushing a very tiny bit of the powder over the dry paint. (I suggest using one of the applicators mentioned in my last post. You can apply it with your fingertip, but you have less control of where the powder goes.)

For a truly metallic effect, you can mix mica powder with gum arabic (liquid or dry) to make a metallic paint. Gum arabic is the main binding ingredient in watercolors. That is how the expensive irridescent hobbyist watercolors are made.

You can even use actual metal powders (nontarnishing ones, such as aluminum) to make your own paint with gum arabic. If you use metal powders, though, be very careful to be in a still (no breeze) environment, and wear a dust mask.

CAUTION: Metal powders can be very toxic and/or mechanically damaging to the lungs. Some are in the form of microscopic spirals that can lodge in the lungs and cause infection. Do not allow children or pets in the area while measuring and mixing if you use them. Once the powder is mixed into paints, it should be safe. Do not ingest any paint of any kind!

Whether working with mica or metallic powders, use only tiny amounts at a time. Be careful not to spill. Use a damp cloth to clean up any traces of the dust from work surfaces or floor.

For opaque metallic paints, you may want to try inexpensive gouache paints in gold and silver. You can tint gold with red to make copper.

Any pearly white paint can be tinted with transparent colors to create many beautiful irridescent shades.

Making Glitter Watercolors

You add fine glitter to any kind of watercolor. Or you can mix fine glitter with gum arabic to paint over ordinary watercolors.

The best glitter for the purpose is made of very fine particles. A good example is that made by Art Institute Glitter, but any very fine glitter will do.

Notice that there are two kinds of glitter: transparent and opaque. Transparent glitter is better for mixing with or painting over watercolor.

Glitter Acrylics

I have also found glittery acrylic paints, usually glitter in a clear base. You can mix glitter with acrylic paints or mix glitter into clear acrylic medium. I have used clear acrylic medium with glitter under transparent watercolor and liked the results. You can see an example toward the right-hand end of the header graphic at the top of the front page of this blog.

You can find metallic, glittery, or irridescent acrylic paints of all grades these days: from expensive to cheap. You can also use acrylic fabric paints on canvas or paper. Fabric paints tend to be less expensive but quite durable, since they were made to be laundered.

Mixing Glitter Glues and Glazes with Paint

Remember that you can also mix glitter glues and glazes with paints. You can also apply them under or over paints. If you experiment with glitter glues and glazes, I suggest using either old brushes or cheap, disposable brushes or applicators.

If you do use any of your better brushes, be very careful to wash them immediately afterward. To make it easier to wash out the glitter glue or glaze, wet the brush thoroughly with water before use. That way it does not soak up the glue so much. (That is also a good precaution when painting with acrylic paints or acrylic medium.)

By experimenting, you will find that you can create many wonderful effects. Remember to mix just tiny amounts until you find the mixture you like.

Be sure to paint a little sample in your sketchbook and write down your recipe for creating that effect. You will be very glad later than you did.

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