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Translucent (transparent or “see-through”) paint allows more light to pass through the color or translucent mica intensifies light refraction and sparkle.
Opaque paints are more reflective (not to be confused with “shiny”). They sit on a surface, preventing light from passing through them. The opacity of a paint color is determined by how it interacts with a light source.
Whether a color is opaque or transparent, it is of greatest importance to painters who work with glazes to build up color, rather than mixing on a palette. Some acrylic paint manufacturers such as Golden, make it easy to judge how opaque or transparent a color is by having a swatch of the color painted on their label.
Alizaron Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Dioxazine Blue, Permanent Crimson, Permanent Rose, Prussian Blue, Phthalo Blue, Raw Sienna, Sap Green, Terre Verte, Ultramarine Blue, and Viridian Green.
## Primary Elements vs. Color-Coated Mica
When mixed into acrylic, the visual difference is mainly **color body versus surface sparkle**.
– **ColourArte Primary Elements:** Produces a more complete, paint-like appearance with **richer color, greater depth, and integrated shimmer**. It combines ground color, mica, and other minerals, allowing the acrylic to retain visible color even where the sparkle is subtle.
– **ColourArte Bling-It, Eye Candy, and Black Diamond color-coated mica:** Produce a more **pearlescent, metallic, or color-shifting effect**. Their appearance depends heavily on the acrylic base, pigment concentration, particle size, and lighting.
In a clear or lightly tinted acrylic, color-coated mica can look like sparkling particles suspended in the binder rather than a deeply colored paint.
In practical terms:
– **Primary Elements:** Color first, with shimmer integrated into the color.
– **Color-coated mica:** Shimmer first, with color appearing through or on the mica.
– **Primary Elements in acrylic:** Tends to look richer and more dimensional across the painted area.
– **Color-coated mica in acrylic:** Creates brighter flashes, shifts, and metallic highlights but may look weak or incomplete unless paired with an additional wet or dry color.
That is why mica-only acrylic can appear beautiful from certain angles yet lack the **full, saturated color foundation** that makes a finished paint look rich.
The exact result depends on the specific product, color, acrylic medium, and concentration, but the general distinction remains: **Primary Elements creates a more complete colored paint, while color-coated mica primarily creates a reflective surface effect.**(https://www.
Bronze, Copper, Gold, and White coated micas are opaque and more reflective. Iron Oxide will sit on a surface and reflect like a mirror. Light cannot pass through.
Also known as Interference paint, it is coated with Titanium Dioxide and is translucent by nature. It allows 90% of light to pass through it, creating brilliant light refraction and a strong shift in color. The term interference means that the dominant paint color changes with the light when viewed from different angles. For example, if you rub a little Interference Blue on the back of your hand the mica shifts the light to blue before you see the color of your skin beneath it.
Commonly known as soap-making mica or cosmetic grade mica, the color coating is adhered to the flake with a wax derivative and does not dissolve, its most common use is making bath bombs and hand-made soap. This does not mean this type of mica can be used as eye-shadow unless the manufacture specifically states you can. Many artists add acrylic ink as a substitute for the lack of actual color. The “color coating” is not enough on its own to achieve the true color balance required to make paints. Eye Candy, Arteza, Black Diamond, Pearl EX, & Woodes Goodies are just a few who offer color-coated micas in their lineup, along with Interference and Iron Oxide micas.
ColourArte created this dry-paint art pigment system by milling and binding dry translucent aqueous color, micas, and other minerals. Our signature blends of brilliant translucent color bases, intensified by sparkling mica light refraction, is what separates Primary Element Arte Pigments from other simple Titanium mica powders.
Primary Elements dry paint Arte-pigment is part ONE of a two-part paint system.
Part TWO is left to the user to decide and the application in which they want to use it.
**Liquid Measurements (1) Tsp = 5 ml / (2) tsp= 10 ml ( heaping tsp 15ml) / Tablespoon =15 ml-20ml
**Dry Measurement- 1/8 tsp = .615 grams / 1/4 tsp-1.23 grams / 1/2 Tsp- 2.46 grams / 1 tsp= 5 grams
**Scoops we ship with our color (1) Small plastic scoop ( leveled) =1/8 tsp / Heaping scoop 1/4 tsp
ColourArte Bloom Base including varnish is great for creating blooms, swipes or just painting with a paintbrush
ColourArte Heavy Body base paint allows painting on canvas, glass, metal, paper, and wood. Thin slightly with Golden GAC 800 or Liquitex Pouring Medium.
Basic mixing recipe: Mix ¼ – ½ tsp. Primary Elements with 2 tsp. Vivid Enamel, a dash of Pouring Medium, and a few drops of water until desired consistency is achieved.
ColourArte Bind and Resist
Basic mixing recipe: Mix equal parts Gum Arabic and Bind and Resist with water, a little at a time until it forms a creamy paste. Allow drying into a hand-mixed watercolor cake.
Use Liquitex and Golden Glazing Medium to create stunning translucent glazes that shimmer.
Basic mixing recipe: Mix ¼ – ½ tsp. Primary Elements with 2 tsp. Glazing Medium.
Use Golden, Liquitex, Polycrylic, or Jo Sonja Vallejo to create a varnished based glaze.
Basic mixing recipe: Mix ¼ – ½ tsp. Primary Elements with 2 tsp. varnish as listed above.
Use Liquitex or Golden Extra Heavy Gel Medium to create a heavy body impasto paint that can be used with a pallet knife
Basic mixing recipe: Mix ¼ – ½ tsp. Primary Elements with 2 tsp. Extra Heavy Gel Medium.
