Pigments are used in the manufacture of artist's paints including acrylic colour, oil colour, watercolour and pastels.  They are also used in acrylic inks and gouache.  With pure pigment you are able to create your own paints and pastels in the shades you like to paint with, and can easily make larger quantities of colour mixes ready to use.  Pigments are suspended in a binder which creates the paint, and also allows it to adhere to surfaces.  In this section we also offer a number of different acrylic and oil based binders for you to create your own unique paints with.  A cost effective means of acquiring paints that exactly match that way that you work.

About Sennelier Dry Pigment

Sennelier’s Dry Pigment works well combined with any binding medium. These pure, concentrated pigments can be used to form watercolour, acrylic, egg tempera and gouache paints. Sennelier Dry Pigment jars contain the same high quality material that is used by Senneiler to manufacture their materials, from oil pastels to watercolour paints.  Available in a range of 94 colours, this paint pigment allows an artist to mix, manipulate and master the preparation of their own colours.

When mixing water-based colours (watercolour, gouache, and tempera) use a hydroscopic product such as glycerin, which slows their drying time and makes them more flexible. The natural binder, either an animal or vegetable base, requires a preservative agent in order to preserve the integrity of the paints.

For oil colours, the best binder is refined safflower oil or linseed oil, except for whites and very pale blues, for which poppy seed oil is recommended.

For grinding colours, use a glass muller on a sheet of glass or polished marble. The longer you grind paint the more fluid it becomes, so be careful not to add too much oil.  Each pure pigment has a particular chemical nature and therefore requires specific treatment.

Wet Bronze Powder

Brilliant bronzes moistened with solvent for oil paintings and bronzing. Add 3 parts Schmincke wet bronze powder and 2 parts bronze medium, such as Ormoline Bronzing Medium. To maintain gloss and luminosity mix into a paste right before painting. The increase of binder results in better resistance to wiping.

Schmincke Tro-Col Pigment Powder

Bronze-powder with dry dextrine-glue-binder. Combined with water you obtain highly brilliant bronze colours. Mixable with all kinds of gouache (poster Tempera) and water-colours. To maintain gloss and luminosity of the bronzes mix right before painting.