Make Your Own Paint With Nature's Colors
DIY projects with earth's rich natural pigments.
July/August 1999
By Dorrice Pyle
Elemental—the rich, timeless hues of earth clays and oxides. They’ve shone from the cave walls of Lascaux and Altamira, France for more than 15,000 years, just as they can add richness and spirit to today’s furnishings and finishes. Mineral pigments range in color from buttercream yellows to rich siennas to warm chocolate browns, and from vivid blues to earthy greens. And they’re nontoxic and easy to use. They can be mixed with water, oil, or wax to be brushed, rubbed, or wiped on wood, plaster, or paint. A thick mixture provides intense color and complete coverage, while a thin one can be wiped on and layered for a subtle glazed effect.
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MINERAL PIGMENT PAINT MIX
1 part linseed oil
3 parts turpentine
Drying agent
Pigment
For sampling, use 1 tablespoon linseed oil, 3 tablespoons turpentine, a few drops of drying agent, and about a teaspoon of pigment. For large surfaces, use 1 cup linseed oil, 3 cups turpentine, 2 tablespoons drying agent, and 3 to 5 tablespoons of pigment. Mix well, stirring frequently as you work, because the pigment tends to settle out.
With a brush or rag, apply the mixture to a prepared surface—clean, sanded, or primed wood or wall. Let it penetrate for 15 to 30 minutes, then wipe off excess. More layers can be applied for a deeper color. The finished, dry surface can be sealed with lacquer or beeswax.
Linseed oil, made from flaxseed, and turpentine, crafted from pine resin, both have strong odors that persist for several days. They’re nontoxic, however, and their scent is pleasant.
WALL-WASH WIZARDRY
A textured plaster wall can be washed with two or more layers of sheer color for a distressed look.
• Mix two colors, using recipe on previous page, with 4 parts turpentine instead of 3. This sample uses gold ochre and green oxide.
• Apply one color to textured plaster wall, and allow to dry.
• Apply second color, only hitting the high spots of texture.
• Blend and burnish the colors by rubbing with a dry towel.
ANTIQUE ARTISTRY
Mottling gives a rich antique look to an otherwise plain-Jane wall.
• Mix recipe on previous page, using 4 parts turpentine instead of 3.
• Apply two coats with a soft, feathery brush, allowing surface to dry between coats.
• Dip a stiff brush in plain turpentine and rake the brush horizontally with a knife blade to spatter the dry wall.
• When thoroughly dry, burnish the wall by wiping with a dry rag in a circular motion.
BURNISHED BUTTERSCOTCH
Luminous colors are simple to achieve on a plain primed wall.
• Mix recipe on previous page, using yellow ochre.
• Apply with brush and allow to dry. Some natural color variation will occur.
• Thin remaining mixture with an equal amount of turpetine.
• Brush on two or more coats of this diluted mixture, allowing surface to dry between coats. These additional translucent layers provide depth and richness to the finish.