De veelgestelde vragen worden verzameld door de kunstenares (Leah) zelf en zij geeft antwoord vanuit ervaring. Om die reden zijn alle vragen in het Engels gehouden om zo goed mogelijk weer te geven wat er wordt bedoeld.
Wij krijgen regelmatig vragen waarom Natural Earth Paint producten in Nederland zoveel duurder zijn dan in de USA. Wij leggen dit graag kort uit: Als je producten bestelt uit landen buiten Europa is er BTW en invoerrechten verschuldigd bij aankomst in Nederland. In het geval van het product verf/verf gerelateerd is dat 6-9% afhankelijk van het specifieke product. Daarbij komt 21% BTW en aangiftekosten/douanerechten van ca € 15,00.
Q: Do your paints have a low carbon footprint?
A: Yes, our paints definitely would! All of our pigments are from the Earth, tested for safety, not made of chemicals like other "non-toxic" paints. You avoid using plastics and plastic packaging, since our packaging is bio-plastic and compostable. You can mix and store the paint in reusable glass jars instead of buying in plastic. Our pigments are so safe they can be disposed of in the compost, so you avoid putting them in the landfill or using hazardous waste disposal systems, which are wasteful and take a long time to degrade, further reducing your carbon footprint. They are manufactured in a women-owned business in a Solar-powered work space! Our packaging is locally made, compostable and made in a Wind Powered Facility. We donate to environmental non-profits monthly and plant trees in the Amazon for every order that's shipped out.
Q: Do your pigments contain any VOCs (Volitile Organic Compounds)?
A: No, there are zero VOCs in our pigments.
Q: Are your pigments made with ethically sourced mica?
A: Yes, we are very careful in selecting the sources of our pigments and mica. They are all sustainably harvested and definitely would never use a source that used child labor.
Q: Are you pigments mined sustainably?
A: Yes, all of our pigments are mined sustainably from small, family-owned quarries and also in a way where no pollution is created from the process.
Q: How do your paints compare in terms of greenhouse gas emissions?
A: We don't create any greenhouse gases in the making of our paints. Our warehouse is solar powered. Our packaging is made in a 100% wind powered facility.
Q: Are the pigments the same as those sold by the Earth Pigment Co?
A: Some of them are, but not all.
Q: What are the particle sizes of your pigments and other powders?
A: The pure pigments (from France) have a particle size of 30-50 microns. The limestone powder has an average size of 3.2 microns.
Q: What minerals are used in your pigments, and how are they processed?
A: The ultramarine blue and purple are different than our other colors in that they have been processed. They are composed of 90% earthen clay and 10% man-made, non-toxic minerals, and it is heated in an oven to a high temperature. Most of the other colors, are yes, clays that form naturally in the earth with different types of iron oxides which determine their color. The terre verte comes from oceanic deposits and behaves very differently than the other colors. Titanium dioxide is a natural mineral that has been processed. The Mayan Red, French Turquoise and Brilliant Yellow are also manufactured with a base of clay or calcium carbonite (chalk) with a non-toxic mineral affixed to it. All other info is on the product page for the natural pigments.
Q: What is the composition and production process of Ultramarine Blue and Purple?
A: Blue Pigment comes from two sources, either crushed lapis lazuli or manmade sources. Ground Lapis Lazuli is extremely expensive and un-sustainably harvested in Afghanistan, so manmade blues have been around since the time of the Egyptians to supplement this sought after primary color. Our ultramarine blue is manmade, commonly used and completely nontoxic. Its chemical makeup is Sodium and Calcium and is an exact copy of the lapis lazuli molecular structure. This pigment is fixed on a natural clay base which makes up the largest part of its composition. It is then heated at high temperatures to get the blue color. Here's the chemical composition of the man-made mineral - Si4O10(OH)2Mg3 The entire process of making this pigment is sustainable and earth-friendly - manufactured in France. The Ultramarine Purple is made in the same company in France and is the same process. Mayan Red is manufactured at a different company in France and is the same process, except the base in Calcium Carbonate instead of clay.
Q: How transparent is your Titanium White when mixed with walnut oil?
A: Titanium white pigment mixed with walnut oil makes a very opaque white paint. You can thin it further with more walnut oil if you want it more transparent. Zinc oxide is by nature a much more transparent white when mixed with oil. We don't carry zinc oxide because we find people prefer the opaque titanium white.
Q: What is titanium dioxide made of?
A: Our Titanium Dioxide (Ti02) is from a common mineral found in nature called Rutile. It is found in metamorphic and igneous rocks, and is the second most abundant mineral sand. Our product is not to be confused with Titanium metal (Ti) which is a silver metal that can also be derived from the same deposits but is a different, separate component. Titanium metal is not a part of our Titanium White pigment. Titanium Dioxide White is a byproduct of oxidizing the rutile mineral and does not contain any metal. The only other natural white would be chalk whiting; however, this does not have the opacity or refractive index of Titanium White so it is not really a substitute. Please note, Titanium dioxide is toxic to breathe in large amounts because it contains silica (ground quartz) which is abrasive to the lungs. We have warnings on our product boxes but I also wanted to mention that it must be mixed with care so as not to inhale large amounts.
Q: Is the Titanium White rutile the same as Titanium dioxide, and is yours food grade?
A: Yes, rutile is the same as Titanium Dioxide. Our pure pigment is not specifically certified food grade though. It may be fine but we can't claim it's food grade without that certification.
Q: Where does the Emerald Green come from and is it natural?
A: Our emerald green is a manmade oxide pigment. Oxides are man-made pigments from natural elements. It has a very high tinting strength and opacity and have excellent UV stability. For a 100% earth based green, try our Terre Verte.
Q: Do your pigments contain red dye, Carmine or cochineal?
A: We do not sell red dye, only red pigments, which are very different. And no we don't use carmine or cochineal in any of our products.
Q: Why does the red pigment look like terra cotta, and why doesn't it mix into purple?
A: Our colors are made from pure earth pigments so they are not primary "Color spectrum" colors. The red is more of an earthy brick red. So, they don't mix like normal synthetic primary colors do. You might just want to get our purple (children's) paint which is sold separately and is a bright beautiful purple. We do have a few brighter pure pigments that are more primary (brilliant yellow and mayan red). These are made by affixing a man-made pigment onto a natural clay base and heating at high temps. So those are not 100% natural like the others. And those don't have the other ingredients that are in your paint set (gum arabic and corn starch). So you would need to add a binder to those pure pigments before you add water so that it would adhere to a surface.
Q: Why does the red in the Natural Face and Body Paint Kit look a bit brown-ish?
A: Our paints are made with natural earth pigments - which is literally earth from the ground (natural iron oxides in clay). There are no synthetic dyes in them. A bright, primary red can only be made with a synthetic petroleum based dye or a heavy metal dye, which is why we use earth pigments instead. They are more earth-toned than primary red.
Q: Is your Mayan Red pigment safe for use in cosmetics, specifically lipsticks?
A: None of our pigments are certified cosmetic grade, but our suppliers say they are safe for cosmetics. So you would need to use your own judgement if using them in lipstick.
Q: Which of your colors is most similar to Iron Oxide Red?
A: The Venetian Red is our Iron Oxide Red
Q: What is your brightest red?
A: Mayan Red.
Q: Do you sell natural vermilion pigment?
A: At Natural Earth Paint, we recognize that some natural pigments are unsafe for human use. We value safety and health, we do not sell vermilion, because of the great care that must be used when preparing, painting, and storing this pigment. Unfortunately, this bright red color contains a heavy metal and is toxic. Cinnabar is a beautiful (yet toxic) red mineral made of mercury (ll) sulfide. It’s used as a source of mercury, and to make the artist's pigment called vermilion that you refer to. To avoid mercury poisoning our customers, we do not source or supply this pigment. All of our pigments are beautiful, safe, third party tested, heavy-metal free mineral and clay powders. We value the safety of our customers highly and do not want to sell anything that could pollute or cause danger to waterways, humans, and the Earth. There are not safe levels of mercury for humans to be exposed to, and unfortunately many new as well as historical sources of pigment contain mercury or other heavy metals.
Q: If red is "earthy" can it be brightened by mixing white or yellow or another method?
A: If white is added to the venetian red, it will create a pinker tone. By adding yellow it will make it more of an orange-y earthy red. The Mayan Red is the brightest red we have and is very close to a primary red.
Q: What is the difference between violet and ultramarine purple?
A: The ultramarine purple is a bright, color-spectrum purple (similar to dixazine purple) and the Violet is a more earth-toned, reddish, brownish violet. The ultramarine purple is a manmade pigment from natural elements and the Violet Ocher is 100% Earth Ocher Pigment
Q: Are your yellows transparent or opaque?
A: The Brilliant Yellow is more transparent. The yellow ocher is more opaque.
Q: What the conventional equivalant to Brilliant Yellow?
A: Our Brilliant Yellow is similar to Cadmium Yellow Lemon or Lemon Yellow.
Q: What’s the difference between Yellow Ochre and Raw Sienna?
A: The powder form of these two pigments are very similar in appearance, however the difference is noticeable once the oil is added. The raw sienna has a more brownish or cool hue. You can see the color difference bellow.
Top: Raw Sienna. Bottom: Yellow Ochre
Q: Where is your Natural Mica Gold pigment sourced from?
A: The mica is sustainably mined in Washington State.
Q: Do you have a recipe for Interior House Paint?
A: I painted my house using the clay house paint recipe from our blog post. I applied it over latex paint on drywall and it worked great. The only downside of natural house paint is that it's not completely waterproof and tough like acrylic or latex (which are 100% plastic). If you scrub it with a wet rag, it will come off — but you can easily touch it up by painting over it.
Q: FHow can I achieve an off-white or beige color for my natural house paint? Do I need to add white oxide or clay?
A: The pure flour paste will dry clear so yes, it does need some sort of pigment or clay.
Q: Do you have an exterior paint recipe that withstands the elements?
A: Exterior natural paint is a tough one and not my expertise. You could google 'How to make natural exterior paint", that gives quite a few recipes that incorporate natural pigments. Mixing pigments with our natural acrylic medium would hold up well but would be pretty pricey for large areas.
Q: Can I use a no voc paint base from the hardware store and add your pigments to it for color?
A: Just fyi, those no VOC paints still have a ton of chemicals and toxins but at least they're a little better. Those places add liquid pigments, not powdered pigments, which is what we have, so you may have a bit of an issue getting the paint smooth but you can use a paint mixer attachment to a drill to mix it. Or you may want to add a little water to the pigment first so you're adding liquid color to the base. If the base is white then it will create a pastel color, just fyi.
Q: How much natural paint do I need for a 10x10 room, and can the clay wall paint recipe be applied over a bright-colored wall without priming?
A: Great question and I wish I had a definite answer. If you follow the recipe on our website, you can see how much paint it makes in the photos - maybe around a gallon. But it handles differently than regular latex paint so it's not the same coverage calculations as latex. Also, each natural pigment has hugely different properties and can make more volume paint or less. Maybe just start with this recipe and see if it's enough and make another batch if needed. Make sure you keep careful track of exactly how much pigment you add to the first batch so you can do the same with the second, if needed. The paints are very opaque (although they do differ depending on the pigment - some much more opaque than others) and would probably cover the hot pink just fine without a primer. I painted a terra cotta color over a black wall and it came out great.
Q: Can your natural pigments be mixed into zero-VOC acrylic paints, or are they best used with the natural house paint recipe?
A: Yes, you can mix our pigments with clear acrylic house paint. I have never done it myself but that's exactly what they do at conventional house paint stores - mix the pigment into the base. The pigment is usually in liquid form though and not powder form but I don't think that would be an issue. For the amount of pigment it's completely different for every color unfortunately. Each natural pigment has drastically different chemical structure, volume, density, liquid absorption rates, etc. I have always just added a cup of pigment to the base (from the recipe you referred too), blended it in and see how it looks, maybe do a test patch on the wall and let it dry and decide if I want to add more pigment. If you want to make quart of red paint, maybe get 1 lb. of pigment and try that - adding a little at a time until you get the color you want. Hope that helps!
Q: Do you offer natural pigments for coloring earthen plaster, and are there sample kits available for testing before bulk purchase?
A: Yes, all of our natural pigments are made for coloring earthen plaster, they work great! We do have a pigment sample kit, but if you know a few colors you like you can also order a small 3 oz. packets of each to try out, which is also an affordable option. We sell each in 1 lb. bags also. But you can get as many pounds as you like.
Q: Can your bulk pigments be used for clay plaster?
A: Yes, absolutely, they are all perfect for clay plasters and natural house paints.
Q: How much pigment should be mixed with kaolin clay to color a thin plaster layer on walls, and how does this relate to the 1:1 flour-to-clay/pigment ratio mentioned in your recipe?
A: By "Clay" I meant any naturally colored clay harvested from the ground - which is basically earth pigment. When I built a cob house we dug up orange clay from the ground and used that as our "pigment" in the natural house paints that we made. But in your case yes, you would combine your kaolin clay with our pigment. I would follow your own plaster recipe and use the pigment as directed. It's impossible to give ratios because every single pigment has completely different properties - tinting strength, amount of liquid they absorb, color vibrancy, texture, etc. It's just a trial process - mix in some pigment and if it's not enough add more. Remember that they usually dry drastically lighter than what it looks like wet / mixed in a bucket. So do test swatches.
Q: Will this product kill my new grass? Will it work to paint deck boards?
A: No it won't kill your grass. Are you staining a raw wood deck? Yes, it would work. I stained all of my wood lawn furniture with the pigment mixed with walnut oil.
Q: Are your kids’ paints tested for heavy metals, and are the results available?
A: Our paints are tested for heavy metals every 5 years by a toxicologist for US Safety Standards Non-toxic Certification (ASTM D4236). It's also tested by a third party lab. You can see that for lead it says "LT (Less Than) 0.5 ppm (parts per million)". That's a very trace amount as there are trace amounts in everything these days - our hair, our skin, tap water, new born babies blood, etc.
Q: Do I need special ventilation or a mask when using your pigments?
A: Our pigments are completely non-toxic but no matter what kind-of dust you're using, you don't want to inhale large amounts of any kind. Our employees who deal with big clouds of dust definitely wear a Niosh certified mask or ventilators. For myself in my studio, when I scoop one spoonful of pigment on my palette and mix with walnut oil, it doesn't create any dust, so I don't wear anything. But if you have extra sensitive lungs I would follow your intuition. Also, one more warning, the titanium dioxide rutile contains silica (ground quartz) which is very abrasive to the lungs if inhaled so be very careful with that one.
Q: Are the natural earth pigments you sell safe, or do they contain toxic minerals like some other natural mineral pigments?
A: Our pigments are third-party lab tested for safety, and contain no heavy metals, animal products, or chemicals. There is a wealth of information online now if you search, "how to identify toxic paint pigments" or similar. Calling direct to the company and asking if the product contains heavy metals (or listing specifics like lead or cadmium) is another good way. Our whole line of fine art products are safety-tested and kind to your body and the environment.
Q: Can the children's paints be used with infants (6-24months) and toddlers/preschool (2-4years)?
A: Yes, the paints are completely non-toxic and can be used by babies and up, however they were not designed for consumption and do not taste good. I would highly supervise toddlers and babies to make sure they don't put a large amount in their mouths. There are other companies that make vegetable-based paints designed for consumption.
Q: Do any of your products contain nuts or are they processed in a facility that has nuts?
A: Only our walnut oil and you can tell people they can use linseed oil (which is actually flax oil) to replace walnut oil. None of our other products contain nuts or are processed in a facility that contains nuts, except our Shea butter in the face paint, which is typically hypoallergenic. I would of course with any new product if allergies are severe or life threatening, do a test first.
Q: Where can I find safety information or MSDS for your pigments and paints?
A: The pigments are described on this page with the MSDS underneath each pigment name. The oil painting kit includes these pigments so you can see that info there as well. The Natural Earth Paint is tested every 5 years by a toxicologist for U.S. Safety Standards Non-toxic certification (ASTM D4236). They are also independently tested for heavy metals by Bureau Veritas. And those numbers are parts per million (PPM) and LT means "less than".
Q: How do you suggest disposing of unused paint (i.e., more than is on a brush)?
A: We recommend to scrap it off your glass palette with a paint scraper (the kind from the hardware store with a razor blade in it.) And then dispose of that in the trash.
Q: Are your products 100% gluten free?
A: Yes, all of our products are gluten free.
Q: Do your paints contain any type of soy?
A: The only product that contains soy is the Eco-solve, which is a non-toxic, natural solvent made with processed soy oil.
Q: Are your products tested on animals?
A: Rest assured we use no animal tested products at Natural Earth Paint.
Q: Do you have a recipe for making soft pastel sticks with your pigments?
A: Yes, you can find the recipe for pastels here.
Q: Do you have a recipe for making oil pastels?
A: Yes, you can find the recipe for oil pastels here.
Q: My gouache paint has grains that didn’t dissolve properly. How can I fix this?
A: If your gouache paint has grains that didn’t dissolve properly, try mixing the pigment with a little water before combining it with the rest of the ingredients. Use a glass muller or a palette knife on a hard surface to help break up any remaining particles.
Q: Wow should gouache paint be stored, and how long does it last?
A: Store your mixed gouache in an air tight jar or metal tube and it should keep for up to 6 months. Although every pigment has its own properties, so drying time may vary.
Q: How can I make vegan gouache without using honey?
A:You can use glycerin instead of honey.
Q: Can I use your pigments in children's modeling clay?
A: Yes, our natural pigments are safe to use in children's modeling clay. The children's paint powder has cornstarch and gum arabic added to make it water soluble, so this may affect the texture of the clay differently than simple pigments. You can experiment and see what works for you. We also have a recipe for making natural modeling clay on our website using the natural pure pigments.
Q: Can your natural earth, mineral, and gold mica pigments be used to make concentrated inks (isopropyl or denatured alcohol-based)?
A: I have never personally made alcohol based inks before so I can't say for sure. But if you have a recipe that calls for any type of pigment then yes, it will work. Our natural pigments behave exactly the same as conventional or synthetic pigments. You might want to buy a few small 3 oz. packets of pigment and test it out first. We do have multiple natural ink recipes that are not alcohol based here.
Q: I was wondering if your pigments could be used to make screen printing ink?
A: Yes, you can find a recipe here.
Q: I am looking for eco-friendly block printing ink.
A: We have a DIY recipe for making block printing ink here.
Q: Can I use your pigments to make watercolor?
A: You can make professional quality, natural watercolor paints using our pigments and this recipe here. Have fun!
Q: Q: Can Methyl Cellulose be used instead of Gum Arabic when making watercolor paint?
A: Gum arabic has always been the traditional binder for watercolor since it was invented. I haven't personally tried methyl cellulose instead but feel free to try and experiment, I'd be curious of how it works.
Q: Can Oregano essential oil be used instead of the ones listed in the recipe?
A: Another good question and something I haven't tried. Oregano is very strong like clove oil — I just haven't personally tried it so I can't say for sure. So sorry, wish I could be more help.
Q: How long does your watercolor recipe last once dried into cakes?
A: At least two years if not indefinitely.
Q: What is the ideal consistency when mixing pigments for watercolor paint?
A: I like to mix it into a creamy but thick paste. It's up to you — start with the 1:1 ratio, and if it's too dry or too liquidy, you can adjust by adding more pigment or more liquid. The test is: mix a touch of the paint with water and brush it onto your watercolor paper. If it's too transparent for you, add more pigment; if it's too opaque, add more base.
Q: How should I store my watercolor paints, and what can I do to make them last longer?
A: If your jars are only half full, the paints will eventually dry. The only way to keep them liquid is to put them into airtight aluminum tubes or fill the whole jar. The fridge can help extend their life a bit more, but both the clove oil and the fridge mainly help prevent mold while the paints are wet. The dried cakes will not mold.
Q: How can I tell if my paints are still fresh and safe to use?
A: If they have mold, don't use them. If they don't, they’re perfect to use.
Q: How should glycerine be added to prevent cracking in watercolor cakes?
A: The recipe recommends a few drops per batch of the 9 tsp. pigment / 9 tsp. base, but what’s needed is different for each color. I wish I had a set answer, but every pigment has completely different qualities and requires different things. The glycerine doesn’t need to be added while the base mixture is still warm — it can be added later, as long as the mixture is still able to be stirred.
Q: How much sodium benzoate do I use in the watercolor recipe as the preservative (per batch)?
A: Just a small amount - 1 tsp. or less.
Q: How long will the watercolor paints last for once they are mixed up?
A: Watercolors keep longer when you add a natural preservative such as sodium benzoate or a pure essential oil of clove. If kept in jars in liquid form they will stay good for 1-3 months. If you put them in tiny aluminum tubes they will last much longer. Or if you put a few drops of glycerin in, you can dry it in cakes. And then they should stay good for at least 2 years, if not indefinitely.
Q: How do I store watercolors after following the recipe?
A: There are several options available:- Store in a small air tight jars (will last for 2-3 weeks or longer if refrigerated)- Store in small, empty aluminum tubes (will last a little longer than small jars). Tubes are available for purchase on our website- Let them dry into cakes in half or full pans or any small, shallow container (may take a few days to fully dry). Will stay good indefinitely.- The "watercolor base" mixture will stay good in a small glass jar for about one month. Be sure to mix it into specific paint colors before this mixture goes bad.
Q: Do you have a Vegan Egg Tempera Recipe?
A: We were given this recipe by a fellow artist and have not tested it ourselves:
VEGAN EGG TEMPERA
Materials: Flax seeds, whole or ground, Filtered water, Nut milk bag or old nylons, Tongs, Two clean jars or bowls, Pigment such as Natural Earth Paint, Gum Arabic powder
Directions: -Place 1 part (I used 2 tablespoons) of flax seeds into a clean jar.-Mix with 2 parts (I used 4 tablespoons) filtered water.-Cover so nothing gets in and let mixture sit for an hour or so. You can put the jar in the fridge if you're not going to use the mixture until the next day.-When all the water is absorbed, each seed will be surrounded by clear goo. Scoop the seeds into a nut milk bag or the toe of some old nylons. Tie a knot in the bag above the seeds so they don't move around too much, then take a pair of tongs or your hands and begin pressing/squeezing the bag, holding it over a clean bowl or jar. The clear goo will come out the sides of the bag and drop into the bowl. This is what you will mix with pigment and paint with. -When you are satisfied with the amount of gel, or you get tired of squeezing, you can compost the seeds, or maybe use them in another recipe.-Add a drop or two of essential oil to the gel, such as clove or cinnamon (Avoid citrus oils as they react to sunlight.) to help preserve, and stir to combine. Now, you are ready to paint. Because the gel is clear, pigments can go a long way. I have used up to a 1:1 ratio of gel to Natural Earth Paint with no problems, depending on how strong I wanted the color. Experiment with each color and mix well to ensure that your paint isn't too gritty. Add a touch of gum arabic powder for a more opaque look and as a binder. I add gum arabic to each color as I need. I find that the paint tends to act a little more like acrylics when gum arabic is added. This paint dries very fast, so keep your original stash of gel clean and mix up colors as you need. When I want a thinner paint, I dip my brush in water, but be cautious how much water you use, as it can turn into a runny mess quite quickly. This paint tends to behave halfway between acrylic, watercolor and tempera egg paint. I love the vibrant colors, and it washes out with soap and water. It's vegan, and if you find you don't like using flax seed gel as a paint, you can always style your hair with it. :)
Q: Which paint works on glass and is there recommended process for sealing it?
A: Our Natural Earth Paint works on glass and you can seal it with our non-toxic and all-natural varnish. Or mix natural acrylic paint - our natural acrylic medium mixed with earth pigments - for a more durable paint that doesn't need a varnish.
Q: How do I glaze?
A: For glazing you would use the same techniques that you would do with traditional oil paint glazing. There are many books, articles and blog posts written about oil paint glazing so I won't go into that here but the simplest technique is to mix up your oil paints and then thin them further with the oil of your choice and brush on. Let dry and then mix up another transparent paint and apply. Some people like to thin the paint with a medium made of our eco-solve mixed with our walnut oil. But googling will get you more in depth techniques on traditional glazing.
Q: Can I paint ceramic beads with your oil paint?
A: Good question. I'm not a ceramics expert so you may need to do some googling like "Can I paint ceramics with oil paint?". Our oil paint behaves exactly the same as conventional oil paint so that question would cover our products. Oil paint in general is very durable and archival but not completely water proof. It may need to be further sealed with our natural varnish. You also might want to just use our Natural Acrylic Medium mixed with pigment for a durable, water-based, water-resistant paint. Or check out this tutorial on different ways to color ceramics.
Q: How can I follow the “fat over lean” technique when using Walnut or Linseed oil instead of store-bought mediums? Can Eco-Solve be added to Walnut oil to create different drying speeds between layers?
A: I was also taught to paint fat over lean. For my oil paintings, I mix up my paint (pigment and walnut oil), then I mix a little of that paint with Eco-solve and brush on a wash. I then might add drips or an underpainting with the same thinned paint. Then after that's dry I start painting with the paint thinned with walnut oil or walnut alkyd medium (which makes it dry fast). I do the thick over then as I paint making sure the thickest paint is at the end. And yes, you can mix the eco-solve with walnut oil to make a medium if you prefer that method.
Q: Can Natural Earth Paints be used for stamping on paper, and should I use an oil-based or water-based paint?
A: Many customers have used our paints for stamping and block printing, and here is a blog post with a safe and healthy recipe using our Natural Earth Pigments. You can try the children's Natural Earth Paint as well. Or you can make professional quality "Natural Drawing Ink" found on our recipes page and use that.
Q: Can Natural Earth Paints be used to paint a wood ceiling white with a gold mica sparkle effect?
A: Yes, I would use our Natural Acrylic Medium mixed with gold mica pigment.
Q: Do you have a vegan paint for wood?
A: We have three types of paint that work great on wood. Our Natural Earth Paint is water-based, you mix it with water to make a creamy, tempera like paint. It's not waterproof and would need to be sealed with "Natural Varnish" if it will be outside. The other is a natural oil paint made of pigment mixed with walnut oil. It is very professional quality, super archival and durable but can take up to a week to dry and has a more involved clean up process. There's also Natural Acrylic Paint (our Natural Acrylic Medium + Pigment) that dries fast and is very durable.
Q: Can you paint with the oil paints on raw wood or do you have to prime it with gesso first? Or methyl cellulose first?
A: You can paint on raw wood, methyl cellulose primed wood or gesso primed wood. They all work. The Mona Lisa was painted on raw wood...
Q: What paint do I use to paint wood toys?
A: Yes, you can use our "Natural Earth Paint" on wood toys but they would need to be sealed with our natural varnish to make them more durable. They are more of a children's craft paint with a very easy clean up. You can also use our earth oil paints (walnut oil + pigment) which are more archival and professional quality but take up to a week to dry and have more of a clean up process. The last option is our Natural Acrylic Medium mixed with earth pigments which makes a very durable, fast drying, water-based paint.
Q: Is it safe to use Natural Earth Paints on jewelry that touches the skin, and how should it be sealed?
A: Yes, our paints are safe to be worn against the skin but yes, you would need to seal them (to keep the paint from wearing off when gotten wet). Yes, you can use our Natural Varnish or our Natural Acrylic Medium to seal it.
Q: Can Natural Earth Paints be used on engraved natural marble beads for jewelry, and is there a non-toxic sealer suitable for this surface?
A: we aren't experts on painting marble so I'm not positive how well oil paint will adhere and dry. You may want to just try it first (we sell small packets of each type of paint so you can try affordably). Our varnish recipe has only been used and tested on wood so I'm not sure how it will work on marble. You might also try just pure beeswax as a varnish. And the oil paint alone is very durable but not completely waterproof - so will wear off over time. I would do a little googling like, "Can you use oil paint on marble?" and "How to varnish marble", etc. Unfortunately I don't know of a non-toxic varnish for stones off hand but I've never researched this topic. You can also use our Natural Acrylic Paint (Natural Acrylic Medium + pigment) for a very quick drying, durable paint.
Q: Can Natural Earth Pigments be used in melted wax, and is there a temperature at which they might clump or lose effectiveness?
A: Yes, these pigments are commonly used in crayons and encaustics. I know that they are color stable to heats from 330 degrees (165.6 °C) to 1100 degrees (593.3 °C) depending on the color.
Q: Can Eco-Solve be used with cold wax instead of Gamsol when painting with oils?
A: Yes, our eco-solve works great in making your own cold wax. Another professional artist that uses our products emailed us her process of making it, if you're interested ...."I melt beeswax using a double boiler... about 1/3 cup beeswax beads or a chunk unbleached. I turn off the heat and move the melted beeswax still on the double boiler (so it keeps hot while I add the eco-solve). I measure out 1 cup eco-solve, so the ratio is 1 part beeswax to 3 parts eco-solve. It mixes easily into the wax. To speed up the drying time I added powdered Frankincense resin from our local organic herb shop. To the mixture above I added 1 Tablespoon of the resin, sprinkled into the melted mixture over the double boiler, stirring until dissolved.
Q: Can I mix beeswax with the Natural Earth paints? Is there a specific recipe?
A: People use our pigments to make candles, encaustics, etc. Anything that you would use regular pigments with, you can use our natural pigments as well.
Q: Can Natural Earth Pigments be used to naturally color beeswax candles?
A: I'm not an expert on coloring candles but we have had many customers in the past buy our pigments for coloring beeswax crayons, wax encaustic paints and candles. Our pigments behave like all other types of pigments. But the pure pigments that we also sell would work and I'm sure there are lots of tutorials on Google. (On the other hand, our Children's Earth Paints have other ingredients in them besides pure pigment and I'm not sure how the corn starch and gum arabic will react with beeswax.)
Q: Which paint is good for "pouring techniques"?
A: Natural Acrylic Paint would probably be the best (Natural acrylic medium + earth pigments) thinned with water. We also have oil paints (super archival and professional quality) and water-based craft paint (student grade). We also have recipes on making your own Natural Gouache or Watercolor paint or Egg Tempera (Archival & professional Quality) using our natural pigments and binders. These all pour well.
Q: What is the best way to use Natural Earth Paints for glazing?
A: Great question. For glazing you would use the same techniques that you would do with traditional oil paint glazing. There are many books, articles and blog posts written about oil paint glazing so I won't go into that here.
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We regularly get questions why Natural Earth Paint products are so much more expensive in the Netherlands than in the USA. We would like to explain this briefly: If you order products from countries outside Europe, VAT and import duties are due upon arrival in the Netherlands. In the case of the product paint/paint related, this is 6-9% depending on the specific product. In addition, 21% VAT and declaration costs / customs duties.
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