Floating Paint

[Dalboy]

OK I want to try floating paint on water to create an effect on a bowl rim has anyone tried this if so what is the best paint to use.

I have tried artist paint straight from the tube despite being oil paint it sank, thinking that it was too thick I thinned it with the correct thinners for that type of paint with mixed result I ended up with a weak layer on the surface of the water.

Any suggestions gratefully received

 

[Kalimna]

Try googling for marbling effect on guitars - I'm not sure of the exact method, but it uses borax and enamel paints (as an example). Might be the thing you're after.

Adam

 

[Paul Hannaby]

You don't float the paint on just water, you thicken it with carrageenan (a seaweed extract) to allow the paints to float. Google marbling and you will find what you need.

 

[Rhossydd]

When I was a kid we used Humbrol enamel paints* to marble paper. Just drops of very runny paint on the water surface worked fine.

*We also used to use 'normal' oil based paint, eg for decorating, but most paints seem to be acrylic based or non-drip now so that might not be an option now.

 

[bugbear]

You don't float the paint on just water, you thicken it with carrageenan (a seaweed extract) to allow the paints to float. Google marbling and you will find what you need.

Yeah - done a lot for book binding papers (at one time...)

BugBear

 

[woodpig]

Or there's Hydrographics.

http://youtu.be/enFSoiCo-lA

 

[bwlossie]

marbling4fun.net

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you all.

You don't float the paint on just water, you thicken it with carrageenan (a seaweed extract) to allow the paints to float. Google marbling and you will find what you need.

After I posted on here and other sites I did some more searching and came across the mention of carrageenan so that sound like what I need