Schmincke AQUA-Pasto Thickener for Watercolour Paints

Schmincke AQUA-Pasto – watercolour thickener to reduce paint flow

Schmincke AQUA-Pasto is a transparent thickener for tube watercolour paints. It makes the paint less fluid, so you can slow down washes and apply the paint in thin layers with a palette knife. It also increases the gloss. The paint stays water-soluble and can be reactivated with water even after drying.

AQUA-Pasto slows down drying and, like watercolour paint, does not dry waterproof. You can apply it neat or mix it into the watercolour paint. It consists of gum arabic solution, additives and water, and is made in Germany. It is suitable for watercolour and gouache painting.

Working with AQUA-Pasto

You use AQUA-Pasto as an additive to tube paint or as a layer of its own. The more you mix in, the thicker the paint becomes and the less it runs.

• Stir before use.
• Do not mix in watercolour pans; mix separately on a palette.
• Apply neat or mix into the watercolour paint, depending on how much you want to slow the flow.
• Apply thinly: layers that are too thick tend to crack.
• Suitable surfaces are watercolour paper or surfaces pre-treated with AQUA-Grund, such as canvas, wood or cardboard.

After drying and cleaning

Because AQUA-Pasto does not dry waterproof, the paint layer remains sensitive to moisture. Slight tackiness of the surface, which occasionally occurs, can be remedied with a final coat of universal varnish. Given the many possible combinations of paint, surface and layer thickness, a quick test is worthwhile. Clean your tools with water straight after use, or with water and soap if needed.

Schmincke AQUA-Pasto product details

• Manufacturer: Schmincke, art. no. 50725047
• Type: transparent thickener for tube watercolour paint
• Use: watercolour and gouache painting
• Effect: reduces paint flow and spreading, increases gloss, slows drying
• Property: water-soluble, does not dry waterproof
• Ingredients: gum arabic solution, additives, water
• Country of manufacture: Germany

You will also need: tube watercolour paint, palette, palette knife or brush; for canvas, wood or cardboard, AQUA-Grund for pre-treatment

Contains biocidal products. Contains 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one and 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one. May produce an allergic reaction.