Schmincke Aqua Bronze is a range of five colours of dry metallic powders with a watersoluble binder. There are three shades of gold, plus silver and copper. Mix it with watercolours and gouache to add a bit of sparkle or use it by itself to add areas of metallic shine to your painting.
I enjoyed discovering what the Aqua Bronzes will do. The moment when the water touches the powder and it changes to liquid metal is fascinating, it’s a bit like painting with molten gold! The binder is dextrin glue, a starch-based glue, that is re-wettable like watercolour.
Schmincke Aqua BronzeSchmincke Aqua Bronze Pale Gold water addedSchmincke Aqua Bronze shown in powder, mixed with water and mixed with yellow watercolour.Schmincke Aqua Bronze Pale Gold on the right: dry, on the left: stroked with a wet brush.Aqua Bronze is opaque so adds opacity to the Ruby Red Horadam watercolour on the right. The Aqua Bronze was mixed with the watercolour but it floats to the surface of the colour and sits on top of the red.Comparing the Aqua Bronzes to the metallic colours in Schmincke Horadam Watercolour The Aqua Bronze is much more opaque and is more metallic. The high opacity is due to genuine bronze pigments, instead of pearlescent pigments in Horadam.Aqua Bronze is well adhered to the paper as it is suspended in glue, yet it lifts well when you wet it.The same image as above, later when dry. The area that was lifted and wetted with lots of water brushed away when dry.Painting red watercolour OVER a solid layer of Aqua Bronze. The Aqua Bronze acts like a resist.Painting red watercolour over a layer of Aqua Bronze mixed with red watercolour. The mixture does not act as a resist.Painting Aqua Bronze with different amounts of water over a layer of red watercolour. It picks up a little of the watercolour and becomes pink.Aqua Bronze mixed with blue and yellow watercolours. When dry, a wet brush lifts a stripe through the circle. The Aqua Bronze is lifted away but the colour is painted out in a stripe.Aqua Bronze mixed with violet watercolour painted on and now dry. Note how the Aqua Bronze floats on the surface. A wet brush is brushed out through the circle. The Aqua Bronze is lifted away but the colour is painted out in a stripe.Aqua Bronze sprinkled on top of wet red watercolour. As long as the binder is fully wetted the Aqua Bronze will adhere.The same as above, fully dry and all the excess un-adhered Aqua Bronze has been brushed off.
Some Illustrations Using the Schmincke Aqua Bronzes
An apple sketch with a touch of Aqua Bronze mixed into the watercolour.An apple sketch using three colours of red each mixed with Aqua Bronze. The Aqua Bronze rises to the surface and floats on top of the colour.For these I used the Aqua Bronze with just water, not mixed with any watercolour, to paint only the stems.I used Schmincke Masking Fluid, the top brand in our masking fluid review, to mask off some areas for this flower sketch. I find the tip of the applicator bottle is not fine enough, so I use a brush (with some washing up liquid in the hairs).The flower sketch finished. I painted the stamen with Aqua Bronze.Detail of the Aqua Bronze on the flower sketch.
The Colours of Metals
(click image for a larger view)
left to right: Silver, Rich Gold, Rich Pale Gold, Pale Gold, Copper.
Click on the underlined link to go to the current offers on Schmincke Aqua Bronze Powders on the Jackson’s Art Supplies website.
Postage on orders shipped standard to mainland UK addresses is free for orders of £39.
Julie Caves is a long-standing contributor to Jackson’s Art Blog and previously served as its Editor for ten years. With an encyclopaedic knowledge of art materials, she writes in-depth articles, particularly about oil and acrylic painting, bringing an extensive research background to each piece. Julie studied journalism in California, fine art at the University of Texas at Austin, and completed both an MA at Camberwell College of Art and the Turps Studio Painting Programme in London. She exhibits her work regularly and continues to write part-time for the blog.
hello.
do you think its possible to mix the Aqua Bronze with Gum
Arabic, and use it out of a half/full pan
Tegen
Hello Sarah,
We’ve just tried mixing the Aqua Bronze in the office with Gum Arabic and putting it in a half pan to set. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t recommend it as it wouldn’t really rewet and we just ended up with dispersed fragments in the water. If you’d like something like Aqua Bronze in a pan you could try one of the shiny Kuretake Gansai sets: https://www.jacksonsart.com/kuretake-gansai-tambi-japanese-watercolour-starry-colours-set-of-6
ssgoktas
Hi,
I recently bought the aqua bronze gold from your amazon shop but am having trouble using it. After I paint with the color, it rubs off even after its dried. You can completely remove it with your finger. Hoe can I solve this? I am just using water, maybe there is some other medium I should be using?
Thank you.
Julie Caves
Hello
I have tested them and painted with them myself and can answer your question.
The metal powder comes mixed with a glue powder. If you add too much water to spread it out thinly there is not enough glue covering the powder to make it stick.
With this product you need to paint a little thicker.
Please let me know if this solves your problem.
Mmi
Hello,
I have same problem.
Which glue powder can i use?
Could you recommand?
Thank you.
Ziba
Hi.I have your problem…aqua bronze would remove
with finger after it’s dried would you please help me
if you solve your problem
Julie Caves
Hi Ziba.
I did not find it to be a problem.
The Aqua Bronze has a powdered glue (similar to watercolour binder so it will come away if you wet it later) mixed into the bronze powder. If you wet it and paint it on it will stick. I only brushed away any excess that didn’t get wet – when sprinkled on top of a wet area only part of the bronze get wet. And when removing it by wetting after it is dry and brushing with a wet brush. When this area dried it could be brushed away. This was what I wanted, not a problem.
If you are having problems with the Aqua Bronze not adhering it could be that you are using too much water so the glue powder is too thinned. Then when it is dry it will not stay adhered. Or you are wetting the dried bronze area a second time, which it seems to dislike, so I would recommend using the bronze as your last step in painting.
I hope that helps.
Kay H oward
Where can I buy these. I’ve used them but I’m having a hard time finding them anymore.
Would you recommend Schmincke or Liquid Leaf from your shop?
quantity/price and quality
Thanks
Julie Caves
Hi Anastasia
They are both great but the effects are different. Also the binders are different.
We do a many kinds of metallic specialty paints. The Aqua Bronze is water-soluble, like watercolour. The Liquid Leaf is solvent-based like oil paint. The Liquid Metal is acrylic-based like acrylic paint. And we have others.
It might help in advising you if you could tell me how you will be using it.
anastasia
Thank you! Planning to paint gold edges on trinket dishes made of white air-dry clay.
Julie Caves
Hi Anastasia
I would go with Liquid Metal as it is acrylic and will be ok on a porous surface and will dry waterproof. https://www.jacksonsart.com/brands/roberson/roberson-liquid-metal
We are out of stock for another week, I’m afraid, it is very popular!
Hope that helps.
anastasia
I’ve been able to order Roberson liquid metal from your shop! thank you!
I have the exact same problem with
schminke aqua bronze, it just rubs of
when it dry, no adherence at all. It
would seem if you were lucky enough
to get it to stick the minute
anything brushed against it, that
would be it. Could do with a solution
to this – looks like theres 4 of us
with the same issue.
Is this possibly a known issue and
thats why your trying to mix it with
gum arabic.
I would just like it to work, whats
the solution?
Thanks
Lisa Takahashi
Hi Jonathan
I have come across a few people online who add gum arabic so there is more of a binder, so I really think this is the solution if you find that when you use it on its own it just flakes off.
Many thanks
Lisa
Frances Tyler
Hi Julie,
Fabulous write-up! I love that I stumbled across your post.
This is exactly what I needed. I look forward to reading some
of your other posts. Hope you’re doing well, my friend!
Lisa Takahashi
Thank you!
Jaime Anderson
Hi,
I was wondering the best way to clean this out of your
brush.
Thank you,
Jaime
Lisa Takahashi
Hi Jaime,
Thanks for your question. It’s best to rinse as much out of your brush as possible with warm running water and then finish off the clean-up by working a bit of brush soap into the hairs and then rinsing again.
rom
I purchased the aqua bronze, intended for
watercolors, by mistake. Do you think I
would be able to use it over dried acrylics?
Julie Caves
Hi Rom
It will probably stick ok, as the base is a glue. But since it is re-soluble with water, like watercolour is, it will not be permanent like acrylic unless you coat it with acrylic medium or a varnish.
Hope that helps.
Ms Debra Fleming
Is this a cruelty free product, please?
Julie Caves
Hi Debra
After talking to Schmincke I found it is vegan, the binder is dextrin glue, a starch-based glue.
Oana A.
Hello. It is recommended to use the same
brushes as for aqua bronze and
watercolor, or different brushes? It is easy
to clean the brushes from aqua bronze?
I ask because I use the Da Vinci Maestro
brushes, witch are expensive
and I don’t want to ruin them.
Thank you
Julie Caves
Hi Oana
Yes, it is water soluble like watercolour. It will not damage your brushes.
Hi, my pigments end up fading over time
even when I paint on good quality
watercolor paper. When newly painted
they are brilliant but despite painting
layers of the pigment (to try and keep
the brilliance), the pigment dulls over
time. I’ve tried a number of papers as
well. Im a professional artist and this
becomes an issue. Any solution?
Julie Caves
Do you mean they go pale when they dry in a few minutes or do you mean they fade from the sun in a few months?
30 thoughts on “Schmincke Aqua Bronze”
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hello.
do you think its possible to mix the Aqua Bronze with Gum
Arabic, and use it out of a half/full pan
Hello Sarah,
We’ve just tried mixing the Aqua Bronze in the office with Gum Arabic and putting it in a half pan to set. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t recommend it as it wouldn’t really rewet and we just ended up with dispersed fragments in the water. If you’d like something like Aqua Bronze in a pan you could try one of the shiny Kuretake Gansai sets: https://www.jacksonsart.com/kuretake-gansai-tambi-japanese-watercolour-starry-colours-set-of-6
Hi,
I recently bought the aqua bronze gold from your amazon shop but am having trouble using it. After I paint with the color, it rubs off even after its dried. You can completely remove it with your finger. Hoe can I solve this? I am just using water, maybe there is some other medium I should be using?
Thank you.
Hello
I have tested them and painted with them myself and can answer your question.
The metal powder comes mixed with a glue powder. If you add too much water to spread it out thinly there is not enough glue covering the powder to make it stick.
With this product you need to paint a little thicker.
Please let me know if this solves your problem.
Hello,
I have same problem.
Which glue powder can i use?
Could you recommand?
Thank you.
Hi.I have your problem…aqua bronze would remove
with finger after it’s dried would you please help me
if you solve your problem
Hi Ziba.
I did not find it to be a problem.
The Aqua Bronze has a powdered glue (similar to watercolour binder so it will come away if you wet it later) mixed into the bronze powder. If you wet it and paint it on it will stick. I only brushed away any excess that didn’t get wet – when sprinkled on top of a wet area only part of the bronze get wet. And when removing it by wetting after it is dry and brushing with a wet brush. When this area dried it could be brushed away. This was what I wanted, not a problem.
If you are having problems with the Aqua Bronze not adhering it could be that you are using too much water so the glue powder is too thinned. Then when it is dry it will not stay adhered. Or you are wetting the dried bronze area a second time, which it seems to dislike, so I would recommend using the bronze as your last step in painting.
I hope that helps.
Where can I buy these. I’ve used them but I’m having a hard time finding them anymore.
Hi Kay,
We still stock the Schmincke Aqua Bronze range, here is the link: https://www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke-aqua-bronze-powders-20-ml
Hope this helps 🙂
Would you recommend Schmincke or Liquid Leaf from your shop?
quantity/price and quality
Thanks
Hi Anastasia
They are both great but the effects are different. Also the binders are different.
We do a many kinds of metallic specialty paints. The Aqua Bronze is water-soluble, like watercolour. The Liquid Leaf is solvent-based like oil paint. The Liquid Metal is acrylic-based like acrylic paint. And we have others.
It might help in advising you if you could tell me how you will be using it.
Thank you! Planning to paint gold edges on trinket dishes made of white air-dry clay.
Hi Anastasia
I would go with Liquid Metal as it is acrylic and will be ok on a porous surface and will dry waterproof.
https://www.jacksonsart.com/brands/roberson/roberson-liquid-metal
We are out of stock for another week, I’m afraid, it is very popular!
Hope that helps.
I’ve been able to order Roberson liquid metal from your shop! thank you!
I have the exact same problem with
schminke aqua bronze, it just rubs of
when it dry, no adherence at all. It
would seem if you were lucky enough
to get it to stick the minute
anything brushed against it, that
would be it. Could do with a solution
to this – looks like theres 4 of us
with the same issue.
Is this possibly a known issue and
thats why your trying to mix it with
gum arabic.
I would just like it to work, whats
the solution?
Thanks
Hi Jonathan
I have come across a few people online who add gum arabic so there is more of a binder, so I really think this is the solution if you find that when you use it on its own it just flakes off.
Many thanks
Lisa
Hi Julie,
Fabulous write-up! I love that I stumbled across your post.
This is exactly what I needed. I look forward to reading some
of your other posts. Hope you’re doing well, my friend!
Thank you!
Hi,
I was wondering the best way to clean this out of your
brush.
Thank you,
Jaime
Hi Jaime,
Thanks for your question. It’s best to rinse as much out of your brush as possible with warm running water and then finish off the clean-up by working a bit of brush soap into the hairs and then rinsing again.
I purchased the aqua bronze, intended for
watercolors, by mistake. Do you think I
would be able to use it over dried acrylics?
Hi Rom
It will probably stick ok, as the base is a glue. But since it is re-soluble with water, like watercolour is, it will not be permanent like acrylic unless you coat it with acrylic medium or a varnish.
Hope that helps.
Is this a cruelty free product, please?
Hi Debra
After talking to Schmincke I found it is vegan, the binder is dextrin glue, a starch-based glue.
Hello. It is recommended to use the same
brushes as for aqua bronze and
watercolor, or different brushes? It is easy
to clean the brushes from aqua bronze?
I ask because I use the Da Vinci Maestro
brushes, witch are expensive
and I don’t want to ruin them.
Thank you
Hi Oana
Yes, it is water soluble like watercolour. It will not damage your brushes.
Hi, my pigments end up fading over time
even when I paint on good quality
watercolor paper. When newly painted
they are brilliant but despite painting
layers of the pigment (to try and keep
the brilliance), the pigment dulls over
time. I’ve tried a number of papers as
well. Im a professional artist and this
becomes an issue. Any solution?
Do you mean they go pale when they dry in a few minutes or do you mean they fade from the sun in a few months?
Comments are closed.