Kaji Mundo Natural Indigo

Character~ insoluble in water, color fast, pigment rich.

Origin~ india, fine milled for printing and painting at Kaji Mundo.

HOW TO USE FOR PAINTING & PRINTING

  1. Decide how much paint/ink you want to make and measure out some indigo. Ratios and color results will vary depending on the medium you are mixing the pigment with.

    How much indigo to use?

Starting ratios: add 6% pigment to medium/binder.

EG/ 30G paint use 1.8- 2 grams of indigo.

*Adjust amounts up or down until you reach your desired color result. I recommend making a smaller test batch to check the color before making larger quantities of paint/ink.

2. Wet your pigment with a few drops of water and mix into a paste. Add your chosen binding medium/printing ink to the pigment a little at time, mixing until well blended. How you mix really depends on what paint or ink you are making. The safest bet is to use a glass muller for this process which will ensure the pigment will be well dispersed in the binder. However you can also stir through a bit at a time in a container for thicker printing inks.

I’ve also used a shallow ceramic bowl and glass pestle for small amounts, and an old ceramic tile and glass jar in lieu of a glass muller. You want to make sure the pigment is well dispersed in the binder.

3. Paint or print!


PLAY WITH THE COLOR

  • Mix in white clay or eggshell white to create pastel blues.

  • Follow the Maya blue technique and heat with different clay powders to create unique blue-green to olive colors.

Notes:

  • To thin paint or ink, add a few drops of water until you reach your desired paint consistency.

  • To create different shades add or lessen the amount of indigo until you reach your desired result. I recommended not going over 12% pigment to binding medium.

  • Let the ink/paint rest for a 5 minutes before using to ensure thourough dispersion of the pigment.

  • If you’re Kaji Mundo’s natural fabric medium, I usually used a small ceramic bowl to mix the ink, as the latex in the medium dries quickly.

OTHER TECHNIQUES YOU CAN EXPLORE

  • Make Maya Blue- and aztec technique where indigo is heated with a porous clay to create light -turquoise blues.

  • Dye- follow any indigo dye recipe to create a vat and dye with the indigo. Though you will have needed to purchased at least the 100G size.


FAQ/

Can I also dye with the indigo powder?

Yes, you can follow any indigo dye recipe to create a vat and dye with the indigo. However we have finely milled this powder especially for painting and printing.

How long can I keep my mixed paint?

Indigo is a living color. Mixed indigo paints will keep anywhere between a few days to months, depending on the climate where you live and what binder you have used. A bit of experimentation is needed, but I usually only mix what I need. If I end up with extra I store it in the fridge and try to use it within a few days.

Can I use the indigo to paint on fabric?

Yes you can use the indigo to paint or print on fabric, using Kaji Mundo’s natural fabric medium or your favourite fabric medium. Make sure your fabric is scoured, no mordant needed. Cure or heat set before washing.

 How long can I keep my indigo powder?

Keep it dry and keep it forever! Best to store sealed in cool dark place. (on a shelf away will be fine.)