Gum arabic acts as a binding agent for things like Pearl Ex, which is a powdered pigment. It comes in two forms, a powder that needs to be reconstituted or in a pre-mixed liquid form. I've used it both ways and would recommend getting the pre-mixed form if you can find it...it's just easier to use, lol!
So say you have a jar of Pearl Ex and you want to paint with it, instead of use it like a powder. You'd take a little container, like a little jar or, preferably, a little 6-holder paint pallette, and put maybe a 1/4-1/2 tsp of pearl ex powder in. Then start adding drops of gum arabic and mixing until you get like a heavy cream consistency. Voila! Paint.
Whatever you don't use in one sitting can just be left to dry in the pallette, just like you see kid's watercolor paint kits? Then just take a wet brush to pick color up and watercolor with it. The gum arabic will also act as a sealant, so you won't need to use a spray fixative.
There...hopefully not more information than you needed, lol!! You can find it in an art supply store. Or, if you have a Michaels, it would be in the "artists" section...with the artists' brushes and cleaners and stuff. Failing that, look in the pigment paint section, which should be right nearby.
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