Gummed water

The gummed water is a preparation entering the composition of the Aquarelle. It is a transparent liquid containing distilled water and of Gum arabic.

Employment

The gum arabic used for the manufacture of gummed water is famous to be an essential component of the softenings. Gummed water is in fact a Liant used for the watercolours, one finds gum arabic in the blood which can be aquarellables. However gummed water almost disappeared from the composition of the gouaches.

Preparation

(this is only the preparation for gummed water, not for the watercolour)

1/3 of reduced solid powder gum arabic (the hammer proves to be essential: it is a very hard substance)
2/3d' distilled or demineralized water.
After having reduced gum arabic powders some, to put it in fabric bags rather fine. To put these bags in a bottle filled beforehand with distilled water.
To let rest one night (if possible, agitate from time to time, take off the bags of the bottom). The gum must have literally melted. There should not remain any hard piece nor even slackness in the bags.

Remarks

Gummed water represents in general between 20 and 40% of the total mass obtained (after addition of the pigment thus constitution of the “paste” to watercolour). Certain artists add various products to their gummed water which change the properties of the watercolour thereafter (more or less opaque, held with support etc). Gummed water is not coloured in general.

See too

External bonds

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