In fact, does honey watercolor contain honey?

Hearing in the childhood about honey water color, who from us did not present it on taste. Is it really tasty and can it be tried without fear for the health of young artists? It is necessary to understand the composition and characteristics of these colors.

What it is

The word "watercolor", which means both paint, and the kind of painting is not accidentally derived from "aqua", that is, "water". Watercolors are abundantly diluted with water, the whole painting looks like this - translucent and as if diluted, but at the same time, the colors are clean and bright. Today, this gentle and very beautiful painting technique is again popular and in demand among artists, buyers and spectators. Love her and the children.

The basis of watercolors is:

• Pigment, that is, the color base - it is as small as possible, with the finest grinding of the particles, which gives the ink transparency and enables the white paper to shine and highlight the pattern from the inside;
• Pigment-binding substances and plasticizers - they can be synthetic or natural (wax, sugar, tar, honey);
• Antiseptics, protecting paint, especially with plant components, from mold.

Obviously, honey is not contained in any watercolor, and only part of it is part of it. However, honey honey is one of the most popular in the market. But honey is not a cheap component, and honey watercolor is one of the most inexpensive and is more intended not for artists, but for children. The contradiction is explained simply - often glycolin or potato starch is added to honey watercolors, which replace part of the binder. They are cheaper than honey and less crystallize, but the watercolor characteristics become worse and poorer. Also, honey is often replaced with even cheaper ones, for example, synthetic analogs, so choosing a watercolor for children's creativity, pay attention to more expensive options.

The difference between honey and other herbs

Why honey is the most preferred component of paint? It's all about his ability not to let the paints dry out too quickly. So, professional artists who work no longer with honey watercolors, still add a little honey to water or paint.

Paints based on gum arabic, and not honey are considered more professional, but honey is easier to work with, their palette is usually not so wide - only 12-18 colors. However, for a child or a novice artist this is enough.

The price is also a difference - honey watercolor is much cheaper than professional watercolor, which is important when buying materials for children's creativity.

Is it possible to eat honey watercolor

This question worries many mothers of beginning artists. And it's no accident: the sweetish smell of paint and the inscription on the box "honey" prompts the young creators to lick the paint or chew the brush. It seems that there is nothing terrible in this, because the paint is of vegetable origin and is based on honey.

On the one hand, this is true, but in addition to honey, watercolor has other components as well. For example, phenol, which carries the function of an antiseptic and can be poisoned. Not too useful and synthetic dyes, and animal glue, and other additives. Therefore, it is better to explain to the child that honey watercolor should not be tried on the tongue.

How to choose honey colors

Choosing paints for a child, you should carefully study the range. Honey watercolor for children's creativity, as a rule, is sold in plastic pallets with a transparent lid. Each color has its own cell and the colors in them, usually a little. But this does not mean that it will not last long, just watercolor requires strong water dilution.

A good honey-colored watercolor will not be too soft or, conversely, too fragile, it will not fit well on paper and will not convey the purity of color.

Pay attention to the colors in the box, even in dry form they should be bright and clean. The paint will easily be typed on a brush and transferred to paper, and when blurring, do not leave villi and spools and do not penetrate the sheet.

The best brands of honey-colored watercolors

Today, a large variety of honey-colored watercolors for children are presented in stores. One of the most popular - watercolor honey 12 colors "Bee" from the brand "Gamma." These colors fit well on paper, easily wash and wash off clothes and table, give a clean color and do not have unpleasant odors. Under the brand "Gamma" are sold and other options of honey-colored watercolor - mother-of-pearl, fluorescent colors in sets of 10, 12, 16 and even 24 colors. The brand is also popular because of its price, the boxes with paint cost from 16 to 112 rubles.

No less popular are the colors "Watercolor honey" brand "Ray". They produce not only standard pallets from several shades in plastic or cardboard boxes, but also sets of watercolors in the form of a fish, a locomotive or chamomile. Draw any colors like any kid. The cost of a set of 20 to 150 rubles, depending on the number of colors.

Another famous producer, who is famous for the quality of his office supplies, is Erich Krause. In their range of sets with a different number of shades, with brushes and without, as well as a palette in the kit. There is neon watercolor honey. Reviews on the quality of only positive: the paint is well typed on the brush and falls on paper, does not stain clothes and hands, has no smell and can easily be washed.

Buy a good honey watercolor for children's creativity is not difficult, besides it is inexpensive and perfectly suited for the first samples in painting.