Coloring Cold Porcelain: For Long Lasting Vibrant Creations

I prefer using acrylic paints to color my cold porcelain. If it becomes sticky during the process, simply knead in a bit of cornstarch to regain the desired consistency. While I’ve experimented with gel food coloring, I haven’t had the best results – white food coloring, for example, turned my cold porcelain a light yellow.

Here are some tips for successful cold porcelain coloring:

• Wash and dry your hands: If you notice the acrylic paint drying on your fingers while kneading, be sure to wash and dry your hands before continuing. This prevents dried paint particles from creating unwanted colored dots on your final piece.
• Use white paint for white cold porcelain: Unlike fondant, you need to add white paint to achieve a true white color in cold porcelain. Otherwise, it may appear transparent when dry.
• Avoid coloring at night, especially yellows: Colors can look different under artificial light, so it’s best to color during the day to ensure evenness and accuracy.
• Color small portions first: Start by coloring small amounts of cold porcelain and gradually add them to larger portions until you achieve your desired shade. This helps you control the final color and avoid over-coloring.
• Add cornstarch for sticky cold porcelain: Knead in a small amount of cornstarch if your cold porcelain becomes too sticky. This will help restore its original texture.
• Remember that cold porcelain darkens after it dries: Keep in mind to go for a lighter shade when you’re coloring your cold porcelain to achieve your desired color once it’s dry.
• Use grey paint to achieve grey shades: You cannot achieve light grey by using a bit of black paint as it will always end up in a very dark grey or black once it dries. So, it is better to use a grey paint to achieve the desired grey shade.
• Store uncolored cold porcelain: To prevent mold growth, store any unused cold porcelain without color.

The more you practice, the better you’ll become at coloring cold porcelain. Don’t be afraid to experiment with various techniques and color combinations to discover your unique style and create beautiful works of art.