I asked myself what are some ways that I can add something to a natural pigment to make it stick to walls as a permanent substance for a project in the Land of Pageia and for in real life. Below are the notes from this quest of Knowledge.
Natural adhesives, or binders, act as the glue that secures pigment to a rock surface. For a long-lasting, eco-friendly application on stone, the best natural options are animal hide glue, egg tempera, or natural tree resins.
These binders can be broken down by their historical origins and modern usage:
Animal Hide Glue (Rabbit Skin Glue)
This is one of the strongest historical natural adhesives, made by boiling down collagen-rich animal connective tissues.
How to use: Powdered hide glue is soaked in water and heated in a double boiler. It is then stirred directly into your powdered pigment.
Best for: Permanent, matte finishes for both indoor and outdoor rock walls. It shrinks as it dries, locking the pigment granules into the pores of the stone.
Egg Tempera (Egg Yolk)
Used by Renaissance masters and ancient artists, egg yolk is an incredibly strong, natural water-resistant binder.
How to use: Separate the egg yolk from the white, pierce the yolk sac, and drain the liquid into a jar. Mix equal parts yolk and water, then stir in your pigment to create a creamy paint.
Best for: Producing a vivid, slightly glossy, permanent finish on rocks.
Tree Gums & Saps
Historically, Indigenous cultures and early painters relied on the sap from local flora, such as acacia trees, to bind pigments to cliff and cave walls.
Natural Earth Paint Europe
How to use: Gum Arabic (derived from the acacia tree) is a widely available natural binder. It can be dissolved in warm water and mixed with pigment. Plant-based milk or the sap of milkweed is also highly effective.
Best for: Creating transparent or semi-permanent liquid washes.
Natural Earth Paint Europe
Plant-Based Celluloses
Derived from plant fibers, these provide a non-toxic alternative for creating an eco-friendly paint binder.
Natural Earth Paint
How to use: Methyl cellulose, a plant-based powder, dissolves in water to create a clear, permanent paint binder with neutral pH.
Best for: Sizing and binding pigment powders for stone or decorative plaster.
Natural Earth Paint
Note on Permanence: The term "permanently" in art can be subjective, as weather and moisture will erode organic materials over time. To achieve true "rock" hard structural permanence for fixing actual rocks or heavy stones to walls, natural binders should be swapped for commercial stone glues, such as Adiseal Masonry Adhesive.
To bind natural pigments permanently to interior walls, you must add a "binder"—an adhesive agent that locks the color to the surface as it dries. Effective natural binders range from pantry staples like flour to tree resins and milk proteins.
·Journey Art Stuff
1. Wheat Paste (Flour & Water)
How it works: A traditional, highly effective, and non-toxic binder.
Recipe: Mix 1 part bleached white flour with 1 part cold water. Slowly whisk in 5 to 6 parts boiling water. Simmer on low while stirring constantly until it reaches a thick, oatmeal-like consistency. Strain out any lumps, then mix with your pigment.
Best for: Cost-effective mural paint or earth-pigmented feature walls.
Storage: Because it is food-based, it will ferment within 24–48 hours; store leftovers in the fridge.
Natural Earth Paint
2. Casein (Milk Paint)
How it works: Milk proteins naturally polymerize and bond with surfaces.
Recipe: Dissolve quark (or dry casein/curdled milk) with a natural alkaline ingredient like lime putty or borax. The alkaline agent acts as a catalyst, cross-linking the milk proteins to create a highly durable, water-resistant, and permanent wall finish.
Best for: Absorbent earthen walls or plaster finishes.
Earth Pigments
3. Plant-Based Resins & Gums
How it works: Resins provide a clear, tough, and permanent film upon drying.
Ingredients: You can use Gum Arabic (derived from the sap of the acacia tree) dissolved in warm water, or commercial Plant-Based Resins (like those offered by Earth Pigments).
Recipe: Mix 1 part pigment with 3 parts resin liquid.
Best for: Recreating an antique "Old World" or classic plaster wash finish.
Earth Pigments
4. Linseed or Walnut Oil
How it works: These are "drying oils" that cure and harden when exposed to oxygen, creating a flexible, lasting, and scrubbable film.
Recipe: Grind your fine pigment with Refined Walnut Oil or raw Linseed Oil on a glass slab or in a mortar until a buttery consistency is achieved.
Best for: Creating rich, vibrant, oil-based paints for woodwork or heavily trafficked wall areas.
Earth Pigments
5. Soy Milk (Soy Protein)
How it works: Similar to Casein, the proteins in soy act as an effective, natural glue.
Recipe: Mix natural pigments with soy milk as the liquid vehicle. You can pre-treat the wall with a pure soy milk solution first to help the pigment grip.
Best for: Fabric walls or natural earthen plasters.
Important Tips for Success:
Grinding: Make sure your pigment is ground into the finest possible powder before mixing it with your binder.
Testing: Paint color is vastly different when wet versus when it is dry. Always do a patch test on a small, hidden section of the wall