Person painting a green squiggle on a white piece of paper sitting next to a metal fork, green packet of earth & mineral pigment, metal whisk and bowl of green paint with a metal spoon resting in it

Recipe: Natural Glair Paint

Glair paints were popularized in the 5th century to create illuminated manuscripts and have been used for over fourteen centuries in Europe. Many of those manuscripts are still vibrant and well-preserved today. A simple blend of two ingredients, glair paint is a transparent, watercolor-like paint but with a slight gloss and sheen when dry. It works best on paper, and is perfect for small, detailed work, art journaling or small paintings. 

Supplies:

Full rainbow of earth & mineral pigments spread out on a white table cloth next to a bowl with 3 white egg, a whisk, metal fork, metal spoon, empty white bowl and an eletric beater

Step 1: Separate the yolk from the white of one egg. You can make tempera paint with the leftover egg yolk!

Person holding a yellow egg yolk in one hand and pouring a white bowl with egg whites into another glass bowl with a packet of blue pigments sitting on the table next to a bowl with the white eggs

Step 2: Beat egg whites into a froth with mixer or whisk until you reach the consistency of meringue.

Person using the electric beater to whisk up the egg whites in a glass bowl sitting next to a bowl holding one yellow egg yolk and a bowl of white eggs

Step 3: Let the egg whites sit at room temperature for several hours. The egg whites will begin to separate. Then, gently remove the foam from the top of the mixture or pour out liquid glair while holding back foam with a knife. The liquid that remains is called glair. Optional: add a drop  of vinegar to help preserve it.

Glass jar filled with frothy egg mixture sitting on a table next to the electric beater

Step 4: Measure 1 part Earth & Mineral Pigment (we used Terre Verte!) into a mixing container. 

Person using a metal spoon to scoop out green earth & mineral pigment into a small white bowl

Step 5: Add 1 part glair to the pigment. 

Person pouring egg white mixture onto a metal spoon above the small white bowl filled with the green pigments

Step 6: Mix with spoon or paint brush until the glair and pigment are fully combined. 

Person's hand holding the metal spoon and mixing up the green paint mixture

Step 7: Paint away! If you need to thin the glair paint, use water. 

Person painting a green squiggle on a white piece of paper sitting next to a metal fork, green packet of earth & mineral pigment, metal whisk and bowl of green paint with a metal spoon resting in it

Storage: Glair paint does not store well, so make enough for one painting session at a time or store in the fridge for up to a few weeks. 

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