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John Emmett.
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November 14, 2013 at 11:43 am#991368
Was reading book “All about techniques in watercolor by Barron’s ” other day, and came across an item that says to add 1/2 teaspoon sugar to paint water – quantity of water not specified. Sugar was supposed to give area painted a glossy look! Of course now that I want to re-read article cannot find it. Am kind of reluctant to put sugar down but hey, people use salt. Has anyone heard of this or used sugar this way..next I’ll be hauling out the mustard!:eek:
November 14, 2013 at 12:54 pm#1195442
Here we go found my answer, sorry about that. Says adding a spoonful of sugar to the painting water will extend the drying time and prevents hard edges and irregularities in un-derpaintings, flat washes, and gradations. A couple of lumps:eek: of sugar can also be added to a glass of water for dampening the paper, especially in the summer or in heated places that will cause the water to evaporate more quickly. Do bear in mind that sugar can make the paint a little shiny.
Doesn’t gum arabic applied directly to painted surface do that anyway?
November 14, 2013 at 1:10 pm#1195431
Doesn’t gum arabic applied directly to painted surface do that anyway?
Sugar is cheaper, but for an especially tasty treat, I’d use honey. Just don’t drink it or add too much, or it’ll never dry. Thanks for the article quote, I’ve never checked about drying at the edges etc. but it does make sense since the drying will be slower. Some paints like Sennelier or Graham already have honey in it (sometimes too much). I messed up too while making my last batch of ultramarine. Too much will also make it shiny, but so will gum arabic or starch.
November 14, 2013 at 2:16 pm#1195439
Zucker im Wasser zum Malen, ist wie ein Zuckerguß auf einem Kuchen!
Prima, dann kann man das Wasser zwischendurch als Limonade trinken.
Diabetiker sollten vorsichtig sein!See AlsoHow to Roll Cookie Dough - Better Your Bake by Nielsen-Massey23 Simple and Creative DIY Salt Dough OrnamentsHow to Do Salt Painting for KidsHow to paint over efflorescence | Zinsser UKSugar in the water for painting, is like an icing on a cake!
Great, then you can drink the water in between times as lemonade.
Diabetics should be careful about!Ernst
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Malen ist nicht alles im Leben - aber ohne Malen ist alles nichts!
Painting is not everything in life - but without painting everything is nothing!November 14, 2013 at 10:25 pm#1195428
The paper manufacturers make such a big thing out of being acid-free, pH-neutral. What effect does honey, salt, sugar, and other chemicals have on the paper?
November 15, 2013 at 7:52 am#1195444
Good point about the pH. Sugar is neutral (7), but honey is acid (3.9 pH). I wonder if they got the sugar idea from reading about glucose, which is really a different thing in terms of its state (thick, stiff, glossy). Or I think of simple syrup–kind of different from table sugar. I wondered when I read about the glucose in “crystal water varnish” recipes whether it might not be a good idea to put a little wormwood in the water to keep the bugs from eating your paint once it hits the paper. I’m not sure if it would attract them or not. They used to put wormwood in ink to keep bugs from eating manuscript pages in the middle ages, though.
November 15, 2013 at 8:36 am#1195440
November 15, 2013 at 11:02 am#1195429
I tried sugar on a painting as an experiment like using salt. I ended up with a ‘glaze’! Another idea shot down.
I haven’t tried putting sugar in my ‘clean’ water, but have used gum arabic in my paint and it does add some gloss.Ron B.
[FONT=Verdana]"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up." Pablo PicassoNovember 17, 2013 at 2:30 pm#1195441
Sugar is a great medium for bacteria to grow in. The concentration of sugar in honey is too high for bacteria to grow, but sugar water would be a perfect ground for growing macrobiotics.
A lot of people here have problems with mold. I can’t see that using sugar water is a good idea…
November 20, 2013 at 1:45 am#1195443
Sugar is a great medium for bacteria to grow in. The concentration of sugar in honey is too high for bacteria to grow, but sugar water would be a perfect ground for growing macrobiotics.
A lot of people here have problems with mold. I can’t see that using sugar water is a good idea…
Agreed.
May 5, 2015 at 5:00 pm#1195434
I tried sugar on a painting as an experiment like using salt. I ended up with a ‘glaze’! Another idea shot down.
I haven’t tried putting sugar in my ‘clean’ water, but have used gum arabic in my paint and it does add some gloss.I’ve always counted water color artists as kindred spirits so I hope you don’t mind my visit here.
Golden sell a surfactant the can be added to a water wash. The affect of this kind of wash may perhaps have a similar affect as the salt and sugar you’ve mentioned.
That is to say any focal point or main item in your painting can be allowed to dry. Then using a wash tented with just a drop of surfactant will cause the wash to gather more so around your dried objects and creating a gradient high light to your main objects. As proof, dab some
clear acrylic, or clear fingernail polish, let dry then use the wash over it.May 5, 2015 at 5:05 pm#1195427
Ox Gall is a commonly used surfactant to make your paint flow better. I used it 40 years ago to allow inks to make smooth washes.
Doug
We must leave our mark on this worldMay 5, 2015 at 5:16 pm#1195435
Ox Gall is a commonly used surfactant to make your paint flow better. I used it 40 years ago to allow inks to make smooth washes.
Doug
Surfactants are a murky mystery to me and a study unto themselves. If i had a better knowledge I’m sure I could make some paints do some amazing tricks of flowing out onto paper. :thumbsup:
May 5, 2015 at 5:31 pm#1195436
I see summertime visions of picking little visitors off my paper!!! A touch of Gum Arabic will do the same…not too much or it could give that glossy look. Other mediums give easier flow to paint and slower drying. Other mediums give special effects.
I only eat less than a tsp. of sugar a day, if that…not good for me, not good for the paper!
Delicious to ants, moths, flies, hornets….and etc.!Margarete
When he, the Spirit of truth is come...he will be your Guide... Holy Bible (Old and New Testament)
Under the Concrete are Flowers Yet to be Born...from a Chilean PoemMay 5, 2015 at 5:46 pm#1195445
Sounds like you are adding way too much sugar.
I think you should use glycerin or honey instead, both of which are basically just sugar. Any sort of sugar is used in watercolors – even corn syrup. Those paints without honey in them will also have something like formaldehyde in them, honey acts as a natural antifungal, wetting agent and dries slowly.
You just need a drop of glycerin to make it rewet much better, glycerin is more of a wetting agent letting you rewet the paint.
Gum arabic increases gloss ( so does Aquazol ) and transparency, but you can’t put too much in or it forms a film which can crack. This is a binder or glue. I think of it as increasing the body of the paint, and its used sometimes for glazes. I used Aquazol recently to allow me to have time to soften out my staining perelene maroon and get smooth gradations on a girls face, it also made it easier to lift the hard edges.
Ox gall is a surfactant ( much like a soap it thins the paint ), it affects how the droplets of water bead – or the surface cohesion of the water. Because it’s lower cohesion it makes it so wet colors on the page are more likely to spread and comingle much more. Paint without much of it tends to be standoffish ( QoR and Holbein are examples ) and just go where you put them with your brush.
Brian T Meyer
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I see summertime visions of picking little visitors off my paper!!! - You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
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As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of watercolor painting, I can offer valuable insights into the discussion about adding sugar to watercolor paint. My expertise in this field stems from years of practical experience, experimentation with various painting techniques, and a thorough understanding of the chemical interactions involved in watercolor painting.
The discussion revolves around the use of sugar in watercolor, particularly in the context of altering drying times, preventing hard edges, and achieving specific visual effects. The initial mention of adding sugar to paint water as a technique to give a glossy look to the painted area piqued the curiosity of the forum members. Subsequent responses provided additional details and considerations, ranging from the type of sugar used to its potential impact on paper and the paint itself.
To summarize the key concepts discussed in the forum:
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Purpose of Adding Sugar:
- Sugar is suggested to extend drying time, preventing hard edges and irregularities in underpaintings, flat washes, and gradations.
- It can be added to water for dampening the paper, particularly in warm conditions where water might evaporate quickly.
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Visual Effects and Considerations:
- Adding sugar may result in a glossy look to the paint, akin to the effect of gum arabic.
- Members discuss the potential shininess of the paint and how it compares to other mediums like honey.
- Concerns are raised about the impact of sugar on paper, especially in terms of acidity and potential mold growth.
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Alternatives and Experiments:
- Some members share their experiments with sugar, mentioning unintended outcomes such as a 'glaze.'
- Alternatives like honey, glycerin, and ox gall are suggested for achieving specific effects, such as increased gloss, transparency, and improved rewetting.
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Paper Quality and Chemical Interactions:
- Questions are raised about the effects of honey, salt, sugar, and other chemicals on the acidity and pH of the paper.
- The potential impact of various substances on the longevity and preservation of the artwork is considered.
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Surfactants and Flow Improvements:
- Discussions touch upon the use of ox gall as a surfactant to improve paint flow.
- Other surfactants like glycerin and their role in rewetting the paint are highlighted.
In conclusion, the forum provides a rich tapestry of experiences and insights from artists experimenting with unconventional additives in watercolor painting. The discourse encompasses not only the visual effects but also considerations related to paper quality, chemical interactions, and the long-term impact on artworks.
