My first encounter with paint making was when my boys—little—mashed rocks and leaves and said, “We’re making paint!” Did I chuckle at their grandiose statement? Perhaps I did. My next encounter was walking into Kremer Pigments in New York City a few years later.* A whole world opened up to me! The shelves were lined with colourful pigments and displays of rocks and minerals—like an old-timey candy shop. Soon after, I began mashing rocks and leaves with my boys whenever we found colour in the natural world, and later with bottles bought at Kremer.
This weekend, I shared some of our found sand and play with a workshop group at Highlights. We filled 14 little eyeball vessels that I made from clay—but I forgot to photograph them! Blast. They were sweeties.
Supplies:
1. muller
2. palette knives
3. tempered glass
4. mortar and pestle (I find mine at flea markets)
5. dropper/pipette (or steady hand)
6. kremer’s premade medium (or make your own!)
7. vessel for paint
8. pigments
9. glass jars for storage (I find at flea markets)
10. clove oil
I linked to Kremer because I’ve only used their materials but there are plenty of shops all over the world that supply materials so adventure beyond! And if you have a favourite, please share in the comments:)
And finally, my first batch was very granular so I pulverized the sands for 5 minutes in my mortar and pestle and mulled another batch and have a smoother paint!
Books:
• The Kremer Pigmente Recipe Book – beautifully photographed and so informative!
• Book of Earth by Heidi Gustafson - (IG) exquisite book, beautifully written! (US)
• Found and Ground by Caroline Ross - (IG) Process, Foraging, &c. (UK)
• The Natural Pigment Handbook (IG) by Lucy Mayes, London Pigment (UK)— preorder now!
not paint, but Make Ink by Jason Logan is in the same pile and I love this book so.
*Kremer Pigments in New York City closes on 1 November 2025 :(
Inspiring !
Sand?? Isn’t that hard on your brushes?