Using Mica Powder and Water-Soluble Colors for Watercolor

Regarding your question about using mica powder for watercolor paint, mica powders like Bright Gold Mica or Gold Glitter Mica are primarily designed as pigments to add shimmer and luster, often used in makeup formulations. They are typically dispersed in oil or silicone-based products rather than dissolving in water.

While you can mix mica powder with water-based binders like gum arabic and honey to create a paint-like consistency, the mica particles will remain suspended rather than truly dissolving. This can give you a beautiful metallic or shimmery effect, but it might not behave exactly like traditional watercolors where pigments are finely dispersed or dissolved to create smooth washes.

If you are looking for water-soluble colors with high color intensity, our HiStain™ range of water-soluble colors is formulated for better adherence and long-lasting color compared to the EasyWash™ versions. Examples include Brilliant Blue HiStain™, Black Color HiStain™, and Caramel Color HiStain™. These are liquid colors that dissolve readily in water and provide strong pigmentation.

For your gold pigment watercolor, you could experiment with mixing gold mica powder with your gum arabic and honey binder to achieve a shimmery gold effect. For other colors where you need high intensity and water solubility, the HiStain™ liquid colors would be suitable.