Dry artist’s powder pigments come in a variety of colors and are available from artist’s suppliers. They can be used for both tinting and painting. When painting, mix the powder with glaze and thin with a little solvent if necessary. They are best use for painting surface designs. Once the paint is dry it can be sealed with a coat of clear glaze if necessary. The use of powder paints can be applied in the same way as artist’s powder paints or as pens to feign the gilding. They are available from artist’s suppliers and model shops.

Other paints include enamel paints, artist’s oil colors tubes of water color and car body paint.

Glaze
Some restorers prefer to use glaze that requires firing (reheating, which is potentially damaging to the object). This cure (sets) by the addition of a small amount of hardener. Clear glaze can be used as a finishing layer over designs painted manually. You can buy the glaze from most hardware stores ¡ª they also stock an accompanying thinner for cleaning brushes.

Apply the glaze using a small brush and ‘feather’ it on to the undamaged glaze so that there is no visible join. If you require a partly colored glaze, tint it with powder pigments.

Brushes
Use good quality artist’s brushes ¡ª preferably sable brushes ¡ª and choose a smaller size than you might feel necessary.

Painting and tinting
Whether working on a plain or patterned piece you will need to match the filler to its surround. Plain or background colours can sometimes be reproduced by tinting the filler before application, while any design will need to be painted in by hand once the repair has been completed.

Selecting colors
No matter what way you prefer, you are unlikely to get a ready-made color match and will need to experiment by mixing various colors together. As a general guide, buy colors most prominently found in china ¡s white, blue, red and a selection of yellows and browns. From this base, you should be able to mix the color you desire. Mix colours on a piece of paper or an old tile and test on a paper.

Tinting
Add dry pigment to the powdered filler before mixing with water. When dry, the filler will look considerably lighter than when wet, so remember to make allowances when adding pigment. Adding too much pigment will prevent the filler from setting.

Epoxy putty
Mix the glue components together and tint with powdered pigment before adding filler. Kaolin darkens the finished color.

Credit : christopher