Foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, are naturally colored mainly by four groups of pigments: the green chlorophylls, the yellow-orange-red carotenoids, the red-blue-purple anthocyanins and the red betanin.

Accessory pigments are therefore essential since they help absorb light and then pass the energy to a primary pigment, i.e. chlorophyll. Examples of accessory pigments are carotenoids (e.g. xanthophylls and carotenes) and phycobilins (e.g. phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, etc.).

Accessory pigments are light-absorbing compounds, found in photosynthetic organisms, that work in conjunction with chlorophyll a. They include other forms of this pigment, such as chlorophyll b in green algal and higher plant antennae, while other algae may contain chlorophyll c or d.

While there are many accessory pigments that exist, the most common are carotenoids (responsible for the reds, oranges, and yellows in plants), phycocyanins (used by blue-green bacteria), and phycoerythrins (found in red algae).

Besides containing chlorophylls, photosynthetic organisms contain accessory pigments that extend the range of absorbed wavelengths. Carotenoids are the main accessory pigment found in cyanobacteria, algae, and higher plants.

Pressed pigments are just as they sound, they are actual pigments pressed into a pan. Since there are not often extra ingredients added to the pigments, they tend to be used in colours that are extremely vibrant and rather than providing a “wash” of colour, they provide full pigmentation.

Pigments simply need to be mixed with water to make a paste before adding to paints or plasters. We recommend to use soft water like purified water. This step-by-step guide will help you get started with tinting pigments.

USING THE THERMOCHROMIC PIGMENT: Mix a small amount of pigment into the acrylic base and dilute with water, if necessary, so it can be applied with a small paint brush. The painted surface should be left to dry in a warm place, where the colour-change effect will become apparent even before drying is complete.

Dry pigment powder can be combined with binders to create a variety of painting media, from oils to acrylics, and you usually need just a small amount of pigment. (Keep in mind that the amount of binder will vary, depending on the pigment used.)

Place a small amount of pigment onto your surface. Add approximately twice the amount in acrylic medium and a few drops of water. Using a palette knife, continuously work into a smooth mix. Some pigments may mix easier than others.

Water-based acrylic paint is composed of pigment particles dispersed in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Pigments can be organic, inorganic, natural and synthetic. They have little or no affinity for the surface to which they are applied. Binder – a binder is the substance that keeps pigment in place after the paint dries.

How to Use Paint Pigment Powder in Your Artwork

1. Mix It With Acrylic Medium. When you get your hands on some paint pigment, you can always mix it with a wet acrylic medium.
2. Use Tempera.
3. Use Glues.
4. Use Gum Resin.
5. Mix It With Distilled Water.
6. Purchase Some Paint Pigment Powder.

You Can Paint on Anything: Painting Substrates for Acrylic

• Canvas. Canvas is commonly used as a painting surface and offers many advantages: it’s absorbent, has a wonderful fabric texture, is lightweight and portable.
• Paper and Cardboard.
• Wood and Composite Panels.
• Patterned Fabric.
• Silk.
• Metal.
• Glass.
• Objects.

Simply mix the eyeshadow powder with acrylic paint and a small amount of water (the powder thickens the consistency quite a bit). The colors show pretty nicely!

Process:

1. Mix pure earth pigment with a small amount of water (with a palette knife) to create a thick, paste-like material. Start with a 1:5 proportion (water to pigment) and adjust as needed. Add binder.
2. Roll it on an absorbent surface (newspaper or paper towels). Roll it into stick form, and let it dry.

Organic pigments made from natural sources have been used for centuries, but most pigments used today are either inorganic or synthetic organic ones. Synthetic organic pigments are derived from coal tars and other petrochemicals.

Watercolor

To make the paints, put the plant material into a pot*, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Let it boil for 15-20 minutes – the water will start to turn color. – *If you have an electric kettle, put the plant material in a bowl or cup and pour boiling water over. Let sit for 1.5 to 2 hours.

Turmeric, sunflower petals, bay leaves, dandelion flowers, marigolds and celery leaves also work. Green: This is probably the easiest. You can use artichokes, spinach, peppermint leaves, lilacs or just plain grass.

We used beets, spinach, tumeric, and red cabbage to create a brilliant range of dye colors. We used beets, spinach, tumeric, and red cabbage to create a brilliant range of dye colors.

Mash the berries with a mortar and pestle or the back of a spoon. Strain the pulp out using a sieve or colander and pour into a small jar or bowl. Add a generous pinch of salt and a splash of vinegar to preserve the paint and mix well. Berries with a darker flesh will produce richer colors.