Water

2004-4-11

Water, lifeblood of our planet, so essential that scientists are now looking for evidence that it was once common on Mars in their search for life outside of our world. Also, an oft over looked ingredient in a miniature painters arsenal!






Turn on a tap and it comes gushing out, but not many people take the time to consider what exactly they are mixing their paint with…

Depending on your geographical location, the water that drops out of the tap is classified as 'soft' or 'hard'. This defines the mineral content, more specifically calcium & magnesium compounds.



Rain water is naturally soft (but slightly acidic and dirty)- it does not contain any minerals, but as it seeps through the ground it can dissolve salt compounds from the soil and rocks it passes through. If rain water passes through soft rocks like chalk or limestone, it picks up these minerals. If it passes through hard rocks, such as granite or through peaty soils, it does not pick up these minerals and so remains soft.

So what does this mean..?

Not a whole lot really to most people, but if you are a painter who uses acrylic paints and inks and requires the finest finish there may be an advantage to using demineralised or distilled water to thin and mix the paint. Combined with acrylic flow improver where appropriate, 'clean' water gives a more stable medium that doesn't contain 'unknown' compounds that could interfer with the painting process.