How I Make Watercolor Paints: DIY Natural and Eco-Friendly Recipe

Creating my watercolor paints is one of the most satisfying parts of my creative process. I get to control the ingredients, avoid chemicals, and mix up colors that feel personal and rich.

In this post, I’ll walk you through my exact method step-by-step. If you’re curious about how to make your own natural watercolor set, I hope this guide gives you the inspiration and confidence to try it!

Gathering the Ingredients for Natural Watercolor Paints

Before I dive into the mixing process, let’s talk about the ingredients. Each one plays a specific role in the texture and performance of the paint.

Here’s what I use to make my eco-friendly binder:

• Less than ¼ cup of honey: This helps the paint flow more smoothly.

• A few drops of glycerin: It adds flexibility to the dried paint.

• A few drops of clove oil: This is a natural preservative to keep the paints fresh longer.

• ½ cup of Gum Arabic powder: This is the binder that holds the pigment together.

• 1 cup of hot water: I use this to dissolve the gum Arabic powder and blend everything.

I mix all these ingredients together and store the mixture in a glass container. It’s so simple but works beautifully! You can find the exact measurements below or tweak them slightly depending on your needs.

Tools You’ll Need for Mixing the Paints

Now that the binder is ready, it’s time to gather a few tools. Don’t worry—nothing fancy is required!

These are the tools I use:

• Small containers or cups

• Tablespoons or teaspoons for measuring

• A mixing stick or spoon

I just use what I have in my kitchen. Any clean cup or small bowl will work just fine.

Mixing the Natural Paint Base

Once I have everything set up, I start mixing the actual paints. This part is where all the magic happens.

Choosing Eco-Friendly Pigments

I use natural earth pigments that are safe and eco-friendly. They contain no chemicals at all! That means I can wash everything down the sink without worrying about polluting anything.

It makes the whole process feel more responsible and enjoyable.

Combining Pigment and Binder

Here’s exactly how I make each color:

1. In my mixing container, I start with less than ¼ teaspoon of whitening.

1. Then, I add 1 teaspoon of my chosen pigment.

1. I pour in 1 teaspoon of the binder mixture I made earlier.

1. After that, I add a few drops of glycerin and clove oil again.

1. I stir everything together until the mixture is nice and smooth.

The result is a creamy paint base that’s not too thick or too watery. Just the texture I love!

Adjusting Consistency and Color Strength

This part makes a difference! If I use:

• More binder: The paint becomes creamier but less pigmented.
• Less binder: The color is stronger and more concentrated.

So I usually match the amount of liquid to the amount of pigment, a 1:1 ratio. That gives me a balanced paint with good coverage and richness. If I want softer, lighter colors, I just add more binder.

Making a Full Color Palette

Now that I know how to mix one paint, I repeat the process to build my palette. I made six colors in this batch!

The Six Colors I Created

Here’s the full set I made:

• Black: A solid, deep tone that anchors the set.

• White: Quite opaque! It even covers some of the pen lines beneath it.

• Red: Bold and vibrant.

• Yellow: A warm yellow with a bit of touch of ochre.

• Brown: Earthy and natural.

• Bluish: Calm and cool, perfect for shadows or winter scenes.

Each one is made using the same steps, just using different pigments. These six paints give me so much variety!

Small Batch, Big Possibilities

Even with just these colors, I can mix so many beautiful shades. I love combining:

• White + any color = lovely pastel tones
• Black + any color = deeper, richer shades

These six paints are all I used for my winter series paintings. It feels fantastic to create a full project using paints I made by hand!

Swatching and Testing the Paints

This step is always exciting. I love seeing how the paints look once they touch the paper!

How the Paints Look on Paper

I swatch each of the six colors side by side. Here’s what I notice:

• The white paint is more opaque than typical watercolor—great for layering.
• The other colors are smooth and easy to control.
• The textures vary depending on how much binder I added.

Each swatch helps me understand how the paint will behave in a real painting.

Exploring Color Mixing

Here’s a tip I’ve discovered through playing with these paints:

• Add white: You’ll get a pastel look with less transparency.
• Add black: Your colors become bolder and more intense.

Just from these six colors, I can mix countless combinations. It’s so satisfying!

Packaging Your Handmade Paints

I love finishing the process by storing my paints in something cute and practical.

I use a small metal container to store my six paints. It keeps them neat, organized, and easy to carry around. Plus, it just looks adorable!

If you’re making your own, feel free to use any small container you have on hand. You can even label the colors if you like.

The Bottom Line

Making watercolor paints at home is such a fun and fulfilling process. With just a few natural ingredients, I’ve created a vibrant, eco-friendly palette I truly love.

Why not give it a try and see what colors you can mix? Creating your own paints can make your art even more personal and meaningful!