Painting & Mixing

From leaf powder.To a material test.

How water makes dry leaf powder workable, why it does not replace a binder and how to prepare a small, repeatable test.

Small amount · little water · test on the intended surface

First, distinguish

Water disperses. An artist medium binds.

Water wets the finely ground leaf powder, helps to work it into a paste and controls the consistency of the application. It does not dissolve the material completely and does not form a binder of its own after drying.

A water-only test is useful for observing colour impression, grain, transparency and brush marks on a particular surface. Adhesion may be limited after drying, so this test is not automatically a permanently bound paint.

For work where adhesion or durability matters, choose an artist medium suited to the technique and surface and use it only according to the manufacturer's instructions. Always make a small test before starting the final work.

Step by step

A first material test with water.

Start small, add water slowly and test every attempt on the surface you actually intend to use.

  1. Prepare the workspace

    Set out a palette, brush, clean water and an offcut of the intended paper. Use tools reserved for this purpose, keep food and drink away and avoid creating dust when opening and portioning the material.

  2. Portion a small amount

    Begin with a small amount of dry leaf powder. This keeps the test manageable and makes it easier to compare further mixtures.

  3. Wet drop by drop

    Add only a little water at first and work it into a smooth paste with a brush or spatula. Only then add more water gradually.

  4. Adjust the consistency

    More water can make the application appear thinner and more transparent; less water can make it appear denser and grainier. Work towards the desired mark and surface rather than a fixed ratio.

  5. Test on the intended surface

    Apply a small area and individual brush marks to an offcut of the intended paper. Write the material name, surface and working method directly on the test.

  6. Let it dry completely and assess

    Allow the test to dry completely before comparing colour impression, texture and adhesion. For work intended to last, switch to a suitable artist medium and follow its manufacturer's instructions.

The surface plays a part.

Surface · absorbency · brush marks

Paper & brush marks

The surface plays a part.The brush leaves its mark.

The paper's absorbency, surface texture and inherent colour alter the visible application. Always test on the same paper you intend to use later.

Round brushes suit changing line widths, flat brushes broad areas and crisp edges, and rigger brushes longer lines. Studio Sets contain dry kratom leaf powder and the paper and brush products listed in full for that set — no binder and no ready-mixed liquid colour.

View Studio Sets

For further work

Plan adhesion and durability separately.

A water test shows the character of the material. It does not replace a tested colour system for work intended to last.

When adhesion, overpainting or durability matters, the artist medium must suit the technique and surface. The respective manufacturer's instructions for mixing, drying and cleaning tools are authoritative.

Even with an artist medium, no general statement about lightfastness, archival stability or long-term colour change can be made without material-specific testing. Document the results and test them before using the material in a finished work.

After drying

Four thingsto observe deliberately.

Every test becomes more useful when the material and working method are documented together.

Colour impression

Assess only when dry and compare under lighting that is as consistent as possible.

Texture

Record grain, sediment and brush marks as part of the material test.

Surface

Write the type and absorbency of the paper directly on every test.

Working method

Document the amount of water, tools and layers in a way that can be followed later.

Kratom stays greenish and earthy.

Kratom base tone · separate artist pigment

More colours

Kratom stays greenish and earthy.Other colours are added separately.

For a distinct yellow, red, blue, white or black, you need a separate pigment from an artist supplier. These pigments are not part of our kratom range.

Test new combinations in a small amount first and follow the pigment manufacturer's product and safety information.

View Adding Colour

Work cleanly

Avoid dust. Keep tools separate.

Open and close containers slowly, transfer small amounts carefully and do not stir up dry material. Use tools reserved for creative work, wipe the work surface with a damp cloth afterwards, and store the material closed and out of reach of children.

Not a food product · not intended for human consumption or application to the human body

All questions in the FAQ