Painting and Water Quality: Does Hard Water Affect the Quality of Watercolor Paints?

Tap water can curdle paints.

Quinacridone Rust paint has non-granulating pigment. The color is lovely. However, when mixed with water in a color palette, it curdles and clumps. The same happens when you drop the paint into a wash.

You get an intensively noticeable pattern of granulation. If you mix the paint with another non-granulating paint that’s dark valued (such as phthalo), the pattern of granulation intensifies.

This occurs even if you buy the most transparent paint with adorable color.

The internet barely has reports of paint granulating in tap water. Although hard water can cause the granulation pattern, you (painter) can easily come up with ways of mitigating the curdling and clumping.

Quinacridone (Rose) and Neutral Tint Paints

Quinacridone Rose and neutral tint paints have non-granulating pigments. The two paints also curdle and clump when mixed with tap water but to a lower intensity.

Whether you buy a dud tube or three from the same manufacturer at different times, the effect of hard water on the paints is the same. Even with that kind of effect, you’re less likely to find similar reports or experiences shared on the internet.

That alone is enough to make you go nuts.

Most botanical artists recommend that you use distilled water to mix your paints and watercolor paints.

Tap water is usually hard water. It contains high mineral and acidity content, which easily reacts with paints. This is more so true if you live in a region known to have hard water.

What is Hard Water?

What makes water hard?

Hard water contains high amounts of magnesium and calcium, including other minerals. Unlike water from open water bodies such as streams, rivers, and lakes, groundwater drawn from wells tends to be harder.

Hard water causes mineral deposits (limescale) on fixtures and pipes. It also prematurely degrades water heaters in plumbing fixtures such as pipes.

Therefore, homes in areas with wells use water softeners to make hard water soft. Water softeners are designed to replace minerals such as magnesium and calcium dissolved in the water with sodium.

Saltwater is beneficial for your health when taken as drinking water. However, it affects showerheads and dishes, among other uses of water.

Similarly, art studios need water softeners to convert hard water into soft water. Otherwise, you’ll end up doing your painting with saltwater or limewater.

So, the best advisable way to produce high-quality painting is using soft water to mix paints or watercolors.

Soft water has other amazing benefits.

Designed for different uses; however, water softeners ensure that you get the best salt-free water to mix your paints. Soft water also reduces the wastage of soap when washing clothes.

How to Test the Effects of Tap Water on Your Paint Work

Buy a large bottle of distilled water and wet-on-dry and wet-in-wet painted samples done on similar paper. Compare the paintings using distilled water against hard water.

You’ll realize dramatic differences between the two painting samples. However, expect to see some visible texture on some of the paint-outs using distilled brush water.

Mineral buildups in the pans and on the plates (use them as color palettes) and brush have been attributed to the visible textures. What’s more, tap water is used to wash painting items.

Even if you use fresh tube paints because they’re cleaner, you’re bound to get similar results. The paint is still vulnerable to curdling.

The Best Water for Painting – Distilled Water

Use distilled water in your paintwork to maintain water quality and painting. Your paints can look better than you and drink more water than you actually do.

Invest in a high-quality water softener system based on reverse osmosis to make your hard water safe for drinking and use in your art studio.

If your studio is shared with other artists, installing a water softener may become infeasible. In such a case, fill up a bottle with soft water at home and bring it with you to your painting studio.

However, if you only wash your brushes and color palettes with RO or distilled water, you’re still bound to see some effects of hard water.

You can easily get torn about paint and watercolor manufacturers. Although some paint brands are bright and saturated, they can be prone to curdling and clumping when mixed with tap water.

When running the test, check out your mixing charts to help you determine other paints with unexpected texture.

For instance, Quinacridone pigments from other brands may not clump as much as those mentioned above. However, they may also vary in color boldness.

Soft water or distilled water produces paint-outs with smooth textures.

Mix your non-granulating paint with distilled water free from magnesium and calcium to get smooth textures on your paintings.

Soft water (or distilled water) is of top quality to maintain the quality of your paintings.

Painting and Water Quality: Does Hard Water Affect the Quality of Watercolor Paints?
May 8, 2020
Posted in Media and Arts, Technology

What is an ionizer machine, how does it work?

Naturally, water from the wells and springs are considered to be the best and safe water of all times. However, the fact that it is hard water which also comes with its share of disadvantages then most people prefer to soften it using the ionization process. The process mainly involves the removal of magnesium and calcium and replaces it with potassium and sodium.

These chemical elements are believed to be the ones that are the first in the reactivity series. This means that they change the acidic component to the alkaline component. Have you ever got water from the taps that taste salty? This is natural water, it does not mean that it is unsafe, it is only that the taste does not sound well for you. This is the time you need to invest in an ionizer machine for the consumer. In short, it is what we call a water softener. The normal taste of water is neutral and that is why people feel healthier using a well water softener.

What are the advantages of a well water softener?

  • It uses fewer detergents hence saving money
  • It removes stains from the utensils
  • It is easy and soft to clean
  • Keeps the skin soft and glowing
  • Brightens and softens the fabric
  • It has a sweet taste

The ionizer machine is something that is installed on the water system and that means that you need a plumber to do it. The ionizer machine uses electrolysis to make the water alkaline as expected. It raises the alkalinity levels of the water to get that beautiful taste. There is no scientific proof that an ionizer machine removes dirt and bacteria, what it only does is to change the PH levels. In this regard, only bacteria that thrive on other PH levels may be rendered inactive or dead otherwise, they may still be in existence despite the changes in the acidity and alkalinity levels.

There are others that use the reverse osmosis system which is renowned for perfect ionization process with minimal maintenance costs. All you need is to talk to your plumber who may have the best experience when it comes to the ionization machines. They come equipped with a filter system that makes sure that some of the impurities are removed which is a rare case especially when you have a treatment plant at the source. The filtration process is to remove the acidic elements that are found in the well waters. This is purely a chemical process that involves a lot of osmosis reaction- which deals with the concentration levels of components.

The digital ones come complete with an LCD display which indicates the electrolysis settings in which you have a choice to input the right numbers. We cannot forget to mention the pressure systems that are found on the machines as a way of having a customized ionization process. With this, you can run a trial and error method in that you can set the settings and taste the water to get the best chemical levels that you feel is ideal. A little knowledge comes in handy to take care of your health too.

What is an ionizer machine, how does it work?
November 26, 2019
Posted in Media and Arts

Having Gun at Home is Important

People who existed in the past were living a peaceful life where enmities, war, crime, and killings could not be witnessed. For these reasons, they only kept weapons at home to protect themselves against hostile wild animals. This is a different situation in our societies today as people who are close to you are the ones who turn against you and kill you. This has made people feel insecure and look for alternative ways to improve their security. So, why is it important to own a gun at home?

Keep you safe from home invaders

As much as you want to live a peaceful life, you must be aware that there are people who can never grant you this peaceful environment. There have been several cases reported about home invasions where victims and up losing their lives and properties. The reality is that no one ever wishes to experience such incidence. So for you to be able to safeguard your property and family members, 1903 pistol is essential as no one will ever cross your boundary whenever this gun is in your possession.

Good for Recreational Shooting

Guns are not only meant for taking lives. Currently, there are sports where participants need to use guns. These activities may include hunting, competition, and skeet shooting. We must admit that people can only participate in a recreational activity that they have an interest in. As a target shooter, 1903 pistol is essential as it is very light and allow you to focus mainly on your target without getting worried about the weight. If someone who has an interest in this game owns his or her gun at home, they will be able to practice frequently whenever they have free time. This can improve their skills and allow them to win medals from shooting competition

Improve security in your home.

Most victims of theft and attacks find themselves in such situations because criminals find them when they are vulnerable. I guess no one can courageously attack a home when he or she already know that they have a gun. As much as the government has been pushing the moves to improve on the security they offer to citizens, it’s not logical that when someone is attacked 100 miles from the police station, than the security personnel will make it in time before the victim is assassinated. But in a case where there is a gun at home, you can simply fight back and protect your home.

Every citizen has a constitutional right to own a gun.

Perhaps you may not really understand how important this can be. But the reality is that in life we meet people with different motives and we must appreciate people who drafted and passed this bill. There are cases where a citizen can request to be given permission to own a gun. Their life may be at risk, or they are having valuable items which need security. This right can help prevent criminal activities such as bank robbery, car hijacks, and human threats among others. Actually, you do not need a high profile gun, 1903 pistol is essential for your own personal security.

Having Gun at Home is Important
February 17, 2019
Posted in Media and Arts