A J Ludlow Watercolour Binder and Painting Medium

Watercolour Binder and Painting Medium is just one of the Watercolour Mediums to complement the A J Ludlow Professional Watercolour range. Made in the UK using the same fine quality materials we use to make our watercolours; this medium has been created to give an additional dimension and creativity to the artist.

Primarily used for producing watercolours in small batches, which are suitable for storing as pans or using as tube watercolour, this medium can also be used as a watercolour painting medium to increases the transparency and brilliance of the watercolour. But unlike gum Arabic solution, it will maintain the watercolour's flexibility and solubility.

This medium contains Gum Arabic and all the other ingredients in the right proportions, that are necessary for a high-quality watercolour.

To make a small batch, just add dry pigment to the binder and mix with a pallet knife using a simple mixing ratio of 1:2 and grind in a pestle and mortar. The pigment particles will be relatively coarse and give a very granular wash, alternatively initially wet the dry pigment with a little water and grind using a hand muller on a roughened glass plate. This will give a smoother watercolour, although the smoothness will be dependent on how easy the pigment is to grind.

This medium can also be used as a painting medium when mixed with moist watercolour. It can be used to extend the watercolour, increase its solubility (if necessary) and increase its transparency and brilliance. Because it contains all the ingredients necessary and in the right proportions for a high-quality watercolour, it maintains the properties of the original watercolour.

An example of using the Watercolour Binder and Painting medium to create special and distinctive watercolours: To create the effect shown below, sawdust and mirrored glass particles were mixed into the Watercolour Binder and Painting medium gently on a ceramic tile with a clean palette knife. The home-made watercolour was then diluted and washed onto watercolour paper, along with diluted conventional red (Cadmium Scarlet), blue (Ultramarine Blue) and green (Phthalo Green (YS) watercolours. The painting was developed by allowing the very fluid medium to flow down the length of the paper.

Details from an abstract painting using the A J Ludlow Watercolour Binder and Painting medium.

These notes are meant for guidance only and by no means, should have a limiting effect on the user’s inspiration or creativity. So how will you use this watercolour medium?