[Greenbuilding] paints

[Chris Green]

Bobbi Chukran wrote:
> I'm researching different 
> types of 0-VOC paints, natural paints, traditional types, etc. and am 
> just learning about the clay paints and earth plaster colors.
>   
You might be interested in this, then:
> Affresco ( In English usage, “fresco” ). Painting done on freshly laid 
> wet plaster with pigments dissolved in lime water. As both dry they 
> become completely integrated.
More info about fresco painting at:
http://www.truefresco.com/

Also:
http://www.muralsplus.com/
> I wonder if the clay paints would work on artist's canvas or 
> something like Masonite?  
Probably, but I suspect you'll have to add gum arabic or natural resins 
( pitch from pine trees...) to act as a binder and to prevent the clay 
from fluctuating moisture contents which might cause the paint to flake 
off the canvas.
> The problem I'm having is finding a place 
> where I can buy smaller quantities of these healthier paints in a 
> variety of colors to try out.
>   
Both the above sites have message forums-- and a lot of members: 14,000+ 
for the muralsplus one, so it's a bit large-- and if you're into it, you 
can learn how to make your own paints using various natural oils- 
linseed mostly-and a few basic pigments-this was how European painters 
were trained in the 1950's. To qualify to work in their trade they were 
given a quantity of linseed oil and 4 pigments and had to mix paint to 
match a pre-painted sample perfectly. (My neighbour next door went 
through this training...) Artists, of course, have done this for as long 
as there has been Art. And that's a long, long time...

A cheap source of decent natural earth pigments is the cement colourants 
used in concrete work. About $25 a pound, but one pound will apparently 
do a whole house, from what a mason told me. These are available at any 
specialty store serving to the concrete and stucco masons. (I have about 
85 pounds of the stuff I salvaged out of a truck wreck....) You can also 
order packages natural earth pigments them from Lee Valley Tools. As far 
as I know, most of these pigments are forms of iron oxides ("ochre", 
etc. )or other minerals carefully heated until they turn into different 
colours.

The strangest paint recipe I've come across is one in a natural paint 
book using only pigment and beer. Perfect for painting honky tonks, 
roadhouses, and the musicians that play in them, I'd say.

Cheers,

Chris Green.