About our Paints
One of the most frequently asked questions is regarding the difference between paints and pigments, so if you're wondering the same, then you have found the right place!
Essentially, paint is made up of 2 basic things: pigment, and binder. The binder is what determines the type of paint (oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc.) and the pigment is what provides the color.
Dreamland Watercolor only makes watercolor paint (for now). The binder used to make watercolor paint is a solution of mostly gum arabic and distilled water. Other ingredients typically include clove oil, honey, and glycerin. Please not that the inclusion of honey in Dreamland's binder recipe means the paint is not vegan.
Quick Start Guide (and helpful tips)
Here's some extra information to help enhance your experience and extend the lifespan of your paints.
Unpackaging
If you just pulled your package out of the mailbox, particularly when the weather is warm, don't get too excited just yet. Even though paints are dry to the touch prior to wrapping, it's common for any extra moisture within the paints to come to the surface during transit. As a result, the paint may become sticky and adhere to the foil wrapping.
If you experience this, keep the wrapping on and set the paints in the freezer for 30 minutes to 1 hour and try again. If they need a little more time to chill out that's fine.
Using the Paints
Proper activation is one of the most important factors in having a good experience with handmade watercolors. If you don't let the water soak into the paint for enough time, the color pay off won't be as good. If you are having a hard time getting your swatches to look like mine, there's a good chance the paints just need a bit more time.
I have found the sweet-spot to be letting about 2-3 drops of water soak into the paints for 2 full minutes. Some may need more time, others are sometimes ready to go in 30 seconds.
Please take the time to learn your paints before applying them to an existing piece of art!
Storage
Each watercolor pan (except for grab bag pans) are equipped with a magnet attached to the bottom. This is because watercolor paints are often stored in tins with magnetic properties. Having a magnet keeps the paint pan in place while you load your brush!
When you are finished painting, please wait until the paints are fully dry before storing them. While clove oil is a great natural preservative and anti-fungal agent, it cannot fully prevent mold if the conditions encourage growth.