Fun Fact: In the fifty's when I was a child, my mother worked in a factory that made toasters and her job was installing mica sheets in the toaster. Mica sheets were used as heat radiator enhancer.
Thank you so much Keren, I really really enjoyed watching you show us all how to use mica powder’s. They are really really stunning too. Please stay safe and well too xxx Mags
Keren you are great for doing these. I just found my mica powders and really had not a clue what or how to use them. Thank you so much for these videos.
Micas are also available in lots of places that aren't selling specifically to artists to try to make more money- you know the ruse, as soon as a marketing company figures out artists are using something, they start their own line of it. You can get them in bulk for way less than art/scrapbooking companies will sell you them.
Keren, Love your videos.! I’ve learned so much through your teaching videos. You are my favorite. Easy to listen and you make it very clear to understand the techniques. Thank you so much! Merilyn
When using mica powders to make watercolor paint, you really need to add a binder to it like gum Arabic and glycerin and possibly a little honey or Clove or oxgal as a preservative. There are makers on this platform that have recipes for making your own watercolor paints using mica powders.
Thank you for that tip! Do you know if you can do that to a spray? I’m just trying out mica powders and my first attempts rubbed off onto my fingers so I needed to seal them. Thanks again!
@@donnacarraway9182 send me your requirement in any type of mica minerals from india? we have our own mines at beawar, rajashtha, india. indian origin muscovite mica minerals we have good deposti amount of stocks. readily avaialble mica minerals in all type of forms like flakes, blocks, powder and scrap. whatsaapp+91-99043 99223 / email - tejasint@gmail.com
Just adding to Karen's warning about inhaling mica powders- once Inhaled that powder stays in your lungs forever, because the particles are so tiny and fine, it will stick to your lungs and never leave. Be safe crafting everyone 😀
@@streedsdeeds I'm happy to help, I hate hearing stories of people getting sick from doing something they love because they didnt know how harmful some crafting supplies can be for their health
@@calsspace2043 you can add it to gum Arabic and make your own inks, it mixes into pretty much any medium you can think of, if you sculpt you can add a nice shimmering accent to it. Mica powders are very pretty and have tons of uses
👍👍🧸🦋🌷😊❤️ My spray recipe. Mix ahead: 1 part clear gel gloss medium (I used Blick). 1 part filtered water. When ready to add the colorant pour into the spray bottle until about 3/4 full, add 3 to 5 stainless steel BBs or small glass beads (makes mixing easier), carefully spoon in mica powder until desired color is reached. Don't forget you can also get drips and spatters by removing the lid and flicking at the paper. You can also use the uncolored spray as a fixative. I also make custom gloss paints by adding mica to the gel gloss medium, I don't like matte with shimmers.
@@KerenTamir it will depending on the bottles used and how often. I'd recommend removing the lids and running warm water through the sprayers until it comes out clear, shake it dry, then return to the bottle. It might be better to store them on their sides too, to prevent the mica from clogging the tubing, something pro versions don't warn about.
Ethan’s you for sharing your video. I have just inherited some fabulous mica powders and they are beautiful. Now I won’t be intimidated to use them liberally.
Apparently the state of North Carolina is rich with mica because when I was very young my sister and I would pick out the mica "rocks" out of the gravel in our driveway and peel them apart. How was I to know at that age the $$ value of that particular mineral. Wish I had some of those ice rocks now.
yes that's the one. My friend from Maine sent me some she found around her area. I actually have a video where I peeled and used those sheets by tinting them with alcohol inks. It turned out amazing. She said there's an abundance of them where she lives.
How do you suggest using them with acrylic paints ?? Do they need to be diluted 1st or just add right into the paints. I have Finnabar & Pearl Ex powders but I've noticed the finnabar leaves teeny tiny bits in the paint if I mix them straight into the paint. I'm just not sure if I could dilute them with alcohol or water 1st & then add to paints ?? Thank you for sharing
I've never mixed them with acrylic paint but thats a good idea. I always created paints with my mica's but never added them to acrylics to make it shine. I wouldn't dilute them first as that will make the paint very liquidy unless that's what you want a fluid acrylic paint. If you do then add water as the paints are water based. I would add very little water though.
@@KerenTamir yes I just will use enough water to dissolve the mica then add to my acrylics which I do mix with a pouring medium to make them more fluid for paint pouring ....the micas really brighten up the colors and give them an extra "bling & shine" to them . I also got them to use in resin art as well. Both create very beautiful art work. Thank you for the tip !!! 😉😉😉
@@KerenTamir geez UA-cam is so messed up or something. I just now got the notification for your last comment....thats pretty slow. Lol. I think the best way for me to.use them in my acrylic paint pouring techniques is to mix the mica with a little clear gel medium and then add to my acrylic paint which I then thin out a little more with a pouring medium & there are different consistencies that are used for the different techniques of paint pouring that you choose to do. There is a brand called ColourArte that comes in a set of several different colors of micas and a bottle of its own special pouring mediums & such and they create beautiful art. Tammy Anderson has a UA-cam channel that show all the different ways to use the products and the pigments in the micas are so beautiful. But I need to use up the collection of powders that I already have before investing in any others. Lol. 😉😉😉😉
Wow thanks for this video. I got some mica powders for Christmas, and wasn't completely sure how to use them other than as an effect to dyed paper 🙈 I can't wait to get mixing with paste now 😄
you can mix these with clear gels and create your own colorful gel, even with resin. It should work to mix with melted wax for candles but I've never done it so I don't know for sure.
You definitely need some kind of binder or the powder will just fall off or rub off. Some powders, like Perfect Pearls, have binder in them and you can use them with just water. If using plain mica powders, add a little acrylic medium with the water when you use watercolor techniques. I'd have liked to see what the dry surfaces looked like. Not much shimmer or shine was evident. I can't tell how these brands perform. Maybe a follow up showing real projects?
sorry I didn't see this message sooner yes you're right about fixative, someone suggested to use hair spray but acrylic medium is a great idea too. I think the camera didn't catch the shimmer as well. sorry for not showing it
Can you use the micro spray on top of a wet acrylic painting? I think it would create an awesome effect if just sprayed on lately. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
I was given some powders but I still wonder after watching you Keren I still wonder why people would bother when paint is no much easier, not as messy and probably not as expensive?? Thank for the demos
I can't remember which ones I used here. I've switched so many over the year. I might have used Prima Marketing in this one but I don't think they make them anymore.
Which brand of fabric paint are you using? E'tac is my main choice but I also use some Createx and Aqua Flow. As for adding micas directly to the paint, sure you can do that. Some 25 years ago I painted a stripe on a pick-up truck and just mixed a blue mica paste with black automotive paint--worked perfectly! That stripe was black all the time except when sunlight hit it, then it was blue pearl. Questions: How are you applying your paint and onto what kind of fabric? 99% of the time I use airbrushes to paint with and almost always when I use micas I mix the powder into the clear base for the paint I'm using, thin with a bit of water and apply in thin coats with a large nozzle/needle (0.50) airbrush. When I'm finished with my painting I always spray some sort of permanent clear over the whole piece--painted t-shirts even get protective clear then they get heat-set @ 350F for 30 seconds. Hope this helps.....
it's not glittery in the sense that it has chunks of glitter. It's more shimmery as the actual Mica from the earth has quartz which makes it shine. The shimmer is very fine.
Technically, yes. However it takes an incredibly large amount of any kind of colorant to achieve any effect with cement/concrete. I have experimented _extensively_ with coloring cement many different ways and would say it is not worth it as the results are never satisfying or lasting. If you want to explore it further, look into mica wax that is used with decorative plaster.
I thought I knew all about Mica powders, but I learned from your video that can mix with gesso for acrylic paint-type medium & using them like the sprinkle powders (I know they have another name but I can't remember.). So, thank you SO VERY MUCH for this video! One question: do you need to spray fixative for all these techniques? Just asking. Thank you again!
Glad it was helpful! you're referring to perfect pearls which is just another brand for micas. If you're mixing them with mediums like gesso, gel, etc then you don't need to fix them but if you're mixing them with water or adding them on their own, I would recommend a fixative
@@KerenTamir thank you SO VERY MUCH for answering my question & so promptly too!!! I have SO many mica powders & I've never used them cuz I didn't know what to do. But your video has given me the knowledge and inspiration I need. Thank you again SO VERY MUCH!!!
@@KerenTamir yes i do that but i said if i make a wax mold e.g. a baby and i pour it in skin color then the diaper and the hat is also pink but i would like the diaper to be a different colour, for example red or blue... i have mica powder applied that way it works but doesn't cover that well, if i mix mica with alcohol then it's not really firm on the wax either
Please suggest your viewers to use breathing mask when handling Micah powder, I can’t stress this enough. It is bad for lungs if it is inhaled and harmful.
![Mica Powder - [Tips and Tricks on Working With This Epoxy Colorant]](/img/n.gif)
Fun Fact: In the fifty's when I was a child, my mother worked in a factory that made toasters and her job was installing mica sheets in the toaster. Mica sheets were used as heat radiator enhancer.
wow that's a very cool fact. I've used the sheets in their pure form for art as well!! they are fun to work with!!
When I make sprays from mica powder, I add a little non aerosol hair spray to the bottle. That gives you a fixative so it will adhere.
That's awesome ,thanks for the tip.
this is a great idea!! love it
Bonnie Butts so you mix water and non aerosol hairspray?
What do you use to make mica liquid
I add a drop or two of glue or medium so the mica doesn’t brush off when dry.
Keren this is one of the best videos I have seen on mica powders. Thank you so much for the work you put in these videos.
so glad to hear that Cindy! I'm glad it is helpful!
Thank you so much Keren, I really really enjoyed watching you show us all how to use mica powder’s. They are really really stunning too. Please stay safe and well too xxx Mags
so glad to hear! thanks so much Mags!
Keren you are great for doing these. I just found my mica powders and really had not a clue what or how to use them. Thank you so much for these videos.
Great informative video Karen, thank you!!!
Thank you so much!
Micas are also available in lots of places that aren't selling specifically to artists to try to make more money- you know the ruse, as soon as a marketing company figures out artists are using something, they start their own line of it. You can get them in bulk for way less than art/scrapbooking companies will sell you them.
you're absolutely right I think that's with any business
Keren,
Love your videos.!
I’ve learned so much through your teaching videos. You are my favorite. Easy to listen and you make it very clear to understand the techniques.
Thank you so much! Merilyn
Wow, thank you so much it means so much to me Merilyn!
When using mica powders to make watercolor paint, you really need to add a binder to it like gum Arabic and glycerin and possibly a little honey or Clove or oxgal as a preservative. There are makers on this platform that have recipes for making your own watercolor paints using mica powders.
thanks for sharing!
Thank you for that tip! Do you know if you can do that to a spray? I’m just trying out mica powders and my first attempts rubbed off onto my fingers so I needed to seal them. Thanks again!
@@donnacarraway9182 ❤❤
@@donnacarraway9182 send me your requirement in any type of mica minerals from india? we have our own mines at beawar, rajashtha, india. indian origin muscovite mica minerals we have good deposti amount of stocks. readily avaialble mica minerals in all type of forms like flakes, blocks, powder and scrap. whatsaapp+91-99043 99223 / email - tejasint@gmail.com
I use gum Arabic powder as a binder with alcohol and the mica works great and does not come off
amazing tip! thanks so much!
O yay how excited I am for this... I have some of fins and mix them w water... Can't wait to see the video.. ty so much keren💜💙💙💜
so glad to hear! Thank you so much!
Thank you, Karen! I just used my mica powders with a stencil and brush to create a background and then sprayed it with hairspray to set it.
Wonderful! enjoy creating!!
Just adding to Karen's warning about inhaling mica powders- once Inhaled that powder stays in your lungs forever, because the particles are so tiny and fine, it will stick to your lungs and never leave. Be safe crafting everyone 😀
Thank you for this cautionary info., As I am beginning my mica & pigment journey.
@@streedsdeeds I'm happy to help, I hate hearing stories of people getting sick from doing something they love because they didnt know how harmful some crafting supplies can be for their health
@@ericawrixon6314 why would you purchase this particular product?
@@calsspace2043 you can add it to gum Arabic and make your own inks, it mixes into pretty much any medium you can think of, if you sculpt you can add a nice shimmering accent to it. Mica powders are very pretty and have tons of uses
Do I need a special mask or is a FFP2 mask enough?
Very helpful video, Keren. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! thanks Sue!
Thank you so much for sharing this.
thanks Keren, got a few mica powders a little bit ago, and have not really been sure the best ways to use them, so this really helped me. TFS.
👍👍🧸🦋🌷😊❤️
My spray recipe.
Mix ahead:
1 part clear gel gloss medium (I used Blick).
1 part filtered water.
When ready to add the colorant pour into the spray bottle until about 3/4 full, add 3 to 5 stainless steel BBs or small glass beads (makes mixing easier), carefully spoon in mica powder until desired color is reached.
Don't forget you can also get drips and spatters by removing the lid and flicking at the paper.
You can also use the uncolored spray as a fixative.
I also make custom gloss paints by adding mica to the gel gloss medium, I don't like matte with shimmers.
thanks for sharing Cheryl. I've never added gel medium I might try that. The gel doesn't clock the spout?
@@KerenTamir it will depending on the bottles used and how often.
I'd recommend removing the lids and running warm water through the sprayers until it comes out clear, shake it dry, then return to the bottle.
It might be better to store them on their sides too, to prevent the mica from clogging the tubing, something pro versions don't warn about.
An old video, but new to me. Just got some mica powders and was wondering how to use them. This video very helpful, ty
so glad to hear!
You are a gifted teacher! Thank You
Wow, thank you! your words mean so much to me!!
Oh, I love that first stencil!! Thanks for the link. So excited to use it.
so glad to hear! enjoy!
Thank you Karen…very helpful!!💕
so glad to hear!
Ethan’s you for sharing your video. I have just inherited some fabulous mica powders and they are beautiful. Now I won’t be intimidated to use them liberally.
Wonderful! enjoy the Micas!
Enjoyed video. Can you mix with resin to resin a painting?
Yes you can. Just mix the powder well
Excellent video - thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Apparently the state of North Carolina is rich with mica because when I was very young my sister and I would pick out the mica "rocks" out of the gravel in our driveway and peel them apart. How was I to know at that age the $$ value of that particular mineral. Wish I had some of those ice rocks now.
yes that's the one. My friend from Maine sent me some she found around her area. I actually have a video where I peeled and used those sheets by tinting them with alcohol inks. It turned out amazing. She said there's an abundance of them where she lives.
Thank you for sharing you made a very informative video that will help many of us x
Glad it was helpful! thanks so much!
Thank you so much. This was very educating. Very easy.
I wonder if u could make an alcohol spray with isopropyl alcohol?
yes you can I believe. not sure how though, I wouldn't use mica, I would use dyes
How do you suggest using them with acrylic paints ?? Do they need to be diluted 1st or just add right into the paints. I have Finnabar & Pearl Ex powders but I've noticed the finnabar leaves teeny tiny bits in the paint if I mix them straight into the paint. I'm just not sure if I could dilute them with alcohol or water 1st & then add to paints ?? Thank you for sharing
I've never mixed them with acrylic paint but thats a good idea. I always created paints with my mica's but never added them to acrylics to make it shine. I wouldn't dilute them first as that will make the paint very liquidy unless that's what you want a fluid acrylic paint. If you do then add water as the paints are water based. I would add very little water though.
@@KerenTamir yes I just will use enough water to dissolve the mica then add to my acrylics which I do mix with a pouring medium to make them more fluid for paint pouring ....the micas really brighten up the colors and give them an extra "bling & shine" to them . I also got them to use in resin art as well. Both create very beautiful art work. Thank you for the tip !!! 😉😉😉
that's awesome!! sounds amazing!!
@@KerenTamir geez UA-cam is so messed up or something. I just now got the notification for your last comment....thats pretty slow. Lol. I think the best way for me to.use them in my acrylic paint pouring techniques is to mix the mica with a little clear gel medium and then add to my acrylic paint which I then thin out a little more with a pouring medium & there are different consistencies that are used for the different techniques of paint pouring that you choose to do. There is a brand called ColourArte that comes in a set of several different colors of micas and a bottle of its own special pouring mediums & such and they create beautiful art. Tammy Anderson has a UA-cam channel that show all the different ways to use the products and the pigments in the micas are so beautiful. But I need to use up the collection of powders that I already have before investing in any others. Lol. 😉😉😉😉
Keren Tamir can I dilute the gesso with water ? And add Flotral so make it move on the canvas for fluid art ?
Can you use mica powder for latex outdoor wall Paint ? Like big Bucket ? Any ideas ?
I know you can mix mica in many things but I don't know about outdoor paint. I've never tried. sorry I can't be of help
Wow thanks for this video. I got some mica powders for Christmas, and wasn't completely sure how to use them other than as an effect to dyed paper 🙈 I can't wait to get mixing with paste now 😄
that's awesome Emma, there's so many ways to use them. You can make sprays too. But my favorite is mixing with gel medium to make a translucent paint.
Why don’t you put some alcohol instead of water with your mica powder, so your shimmer spray will stay on your paper? ❤😊
don't know never tried although not sure if it would bind to the paper, is alcohol a binder. I'm not sure
Can I do it for Candels? Gelwachs? Gabriela from Germany 🇩🇪. Please help me. Thanks.
you can mix these with clear gels and create your own colorful gel, even with resin. It should work to mix with melted wax for candles but I've never done it so I don't know for sure.
You definitely need some kind of binder or the powder will just fall off or rub off. Some powders, like Perfect Pearls, have binder in them and you can use them with just water. If using plain mica powders, add a little acrylic medium with the water when you use watercolor techniques.
I'd have liked to see what the dry surfaces looked like. Not much shimmer or shine was evident. I can't tell how these brands perform. Maybe a follow up showing real projects?
sorry I didn't see this message sooner yes you're right about fixative, someone suggested to use hair spray but acrylic medium is a great idea too. I think the camera didn't catch the shimmer as well. sorry for not showing it
Can you use the micro spray on top of a wet acrylic painting? I think it would create an awesome effect if just sprayed on lately. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
you should be able to as the powders can be mixed with acrylic paint to give shimmer
Will this work with mica resin powder ?
I’m not sure. I think mica is mica. But you would have to test it.
@ sounds good and i will put it to the test thanks
Those are great techniques
I was given some powders but I still wonder after watching you Keren I still wonder why people would bother when paint is no much easier, not as messy and probably not as expensive?? Thank for the demos
I use hairspray instead of water, on mica sprays
that's cool!! I might try that!
What’s the company name of those cool spray bottles ? Toda Keren from Haia
I can't remember which ones I used here. I've switched so many over the year. I might have used Prima Marketing in this one but I don't think they make them anymore.
I had no idea I could mix mica with Gesso😮wow thanks!! Never knew this!
Yes you can! and with paste and other mediums like gel and glue
Can we mix mica powder in fabric paint will it get wash off r fall after drying kindly reply me
you can definitely mix it with anything but I'm not sure if it comes off as I've never tried!
Which brand of fabric paint are you using? E'tac is my main choice but I also use some Createx and Aqua Flow. As for adding micas directly to the paint, sure you can do that. Some 25 years ago I painted a stripe on a pick-up truck and just mixed a blue mica paste with black automotive paint--worked perfectly! That stripe was black all the time except when sunlight hit it, then it was blue pearl.
Questions: How are you applying your paint and onto what kind of fabric? 99% of the time I use airbrushes to paint with and almost always when I use micas I mix the powder into the clear base for the paint I'm using, thin with a bit of water and apply in thin coats with a large nozzle/needle (0.50) airbrush. When I'm finished with my painting I always spray some sort of permanent clear over the whole piece--painted t-shirts even get protective clear then they get heat-set @ 350F for 30 seconds. Hope this helps.....
How do you use the interface mica powder pigments for acrylic pouring? What is it supposed to look like?
I'm sorry I'm not familiar with pouring unfortunately. my guess is that you can mix mica powders with pouring medium or white paint.
I have a question, is the Mica Powder glittery ?
it's not glittery in the sense that it has chunks of glitter. It's more shimmery as the actual Mica from the earth has quartz which makes it shine. The shimmer is very fine.
Woww... can somebody tell me what to add mica in a plastic bottle to make spray paint. It is not only water.. i am a dutch girl. Thank you so much
Yes it’s only water. But if you want it to be permanent you need to spray at the end with some kind of sealer
What do you meen to spray in the end with a sealen. In the bottle or what. And what is a sealen???
once your artwork is done, you need to seal it with a spray or varnish to protect it. at the end when you're done your project.
With the sprays add a few drops of pva and it fixes it
Who makes the scoop you are using for the powders? I have ms so have trouble using some tools and that looks perfect.
Paulie I'm not sure if its this one, but this is the one I use now: ldli.co/e/5n1mlx
I would to paint candles in a very subtle way. Could I do this with mica?
Hi Lynn, I truly don't know as I've never painted candles. I would suggest to try
Great video, thanks!
Glad you liked it! thank you!
Thank you for the great information!
Glad it was helpful!
wonderful info...thank you
thanks so much!
Thank you ✌💗😊🙏
You are so welcome
Can I use mica to make Calligraphy inks?
I'm not really sure I've never made calligraphy inks but you can mix them with other mediums so I would try.
Great video
Thanks!
Thanks for the video!! It was helpful
Can mica powder be used to color cement?
I don't really know I've never used it on cement
Technically, yes. However it takes an incredibly large amount of any kind of colorant to achieve any effect with cement/concrete. I have experimented _extensively_ with coloring cement many different ways and would say it is not worth it as the results are never satisfying or lasting. If you want to explore it further, look into mica wax that is used with decorative plaster.
Great video, thanks.
Glad you liked it! thank you!!
Keren Tamir very informative, especially for someone just starting out with mica. 👍
Great ideas Keren! Thanks for sharing!❤️
Thank you
I thought I knew all about Mica powders, but I learned from your video that can mix with gesso for acrylic paint-type medium & using them like the sprinkle powders (I know they have another name but I can't remember.). So, thank you SO VERY MUCH for this video! One question: do you need to spray fixative for all these techniques? Just asking. Thank you again!
Glad it was helpful! you're referring to perfect pearls which is just another brand for micas. If you're mixing them with mediums like gesso, gel, etc then you don't need to fix them but if you're mixing them with water or adding them on their own, I would recommend a fixative
@@KerenTamir thank you SO VERY MUCH for answering my question & so promptly too!!! I have SO many mica powders & I've never used them cuz I didn't know what to do. But your video has given me the knowledge and inspiration I need. Thank you again SO VERY MUCH!!!
Are these the same as Twinkling H2Os?
No they're not, these are actual powders with pure mica that can mix with other products, more similar to perfect pearls.
Hu how can i colour candles with this mica powder
You can mix the mica powder into your melted wax to color it
@@KerenTamir yes i do that but i said if i make a wax mold e.g. a baby and i pour it in skin color then the diaper and the hat is also pink but i would like the diaper to be a different colour, for example red or blue... i have mica powder applied that way it works but doesn't cover that well, if i mix mica with alcohol then it's not really firm on the wax either
Very informative, thank you so very much for sharing this video! MaryJo
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks!
Your welcome!!
Love seeing all these great ideas! :)
thank you so much!!!
Please suggest your viewers to use breathing mask when handling Micah powder, I can’t stress this enough. It is bad for lungs if it is inhaled and harmful.
How about midge podge?
yes mod podge is like gel medium so it will work
Thank you for this video..
How about adding acrylic pouring medium to make them permanent?
yes you can combine that and it will make it permanent, same with acrylic paints
Keren Tamir what acrylic paints would you combine them with? Similar colors or neutral?
Thank you...
I was thinking about trying Mica powder and then I learned that little children are used to mine this mineral. This makes me feel sad.
oh I didn't know that. I know that my friend in Vermont finds in on her walks sometimes . I'm surprised that they use children...
@@KerenTamir I saw the video right here on UA-cam when I was doing research to learn how to use mica!
Love this technique!
thanks so much!!!
❤️
make sure you use a mask :) don't breath in any of the powder
💗👍👀 2/7/2//