Observation Record of Human Intervention Variables and Perceptual Decision-Making in Handmade Watercolor Systems

In the research and production systems of watercolor paints, the inherent properties of materials and environmental conditions (such as temperature and humidity) are usually discussed as the primary variables. However, handmade watercolors are not products created by materials combining and evolving on their own. From raw material selection, formula establishment, and process control to later maintenance and information archiving, individuals continuously observe, judge, and make decisions throughout the material’s entire lifecycle. As a sustained variable of decision-making, human intervention joins material and environmental variables in determining the final state of the paint.

1. Human Judgment During Raw Material Introduction

Before materials enter the paint system, they first rely on human evaluation and selection:

• Pigment Property Identification and Selection: A wide range of colorants exists on the market, including standard pigments, food-grade colorants, industrial plastic pigments, cosmetic pigments, and liquid dyes. Not all colorants are suitable for watercolor systems. Through observation and practical testing, individuals evaluate the binding capability and stability of each pigment to decide which should be retained and which should be excluded.
• Binder System Design and Formulation: Binders are not single standard substances. Based on the material properties of different pigments, individuals choose specific base components, determine preservation or stabilization methods (such as using plant-derived ingredients or specific auxiliaries), and control the ratios of each component.
• Precise Control of Water Content: As a key medium, the amount of water added directly affects the fluidity and mixing thoroughness of the system. Controlling water volume relies entirely on real-time observation and adjustment during formulation.

2. Intervention Behaviors During Processing and Making

During the mixing of pigments and binders as well as subsequent processing stages, human observation and decisions directly regulate material form:

• Binding State Judgment and Processing Choices: After pigments and binders are combined, individuals must observe whether they are fully integrated or if undispersed fine powders remain, deciding whether to perform special grinding, extend mixing time, or change processing tools.
• Tool Selection and Operational Adaptation: Different material states require matching grinding and stirring tools. Tools do not operate on their own; their choice and intensity of use depend on evaluating the current material state.
• Layered Pouring and Drying Node Determination: The pouring process does not follow a rigid schedule. The volume of each layer, the intervals between pours, and whether the paint has cured sufficiently for the next layer are all judged based on real-time drying progress.

3. Identifying Abnormal States and Decision-Making on Rework

Paint may exhibit structural or morphological anomalies during production and initial setting stages, and handling methods depend on human evaluation:

• Observation of Common Anomalies: During material evolution, phenomena such as heavy bubbling, clumping, separation of pigment and binder, hard settling at the bottom, or material spoilage may be observed.
• Evaluating Rework Feasibility: Depending on color characteristics and pigment traits, individuals must assess whether an abnormal state exceeds the reversible range. For example, evaluating whether clumped material can be re-dispersed or if formula deviations can be corrected. Different colors require distinct rework paths based on their specific states.
• Addressing Internal Structural Deficiencies: For internal cavities or structural discontinuities that form during pouring and curing, visual inspection is used to identify the issues and take appropriate filling or resetting measures.

4. Later Maintenance, Stability Confirmation, and Information Archiving

After paint production is complete, human involvement shifts to long-term tracking and data organization:

• Finished Product Stability and Sales Release Determination: Before paint enters application or release stages, individuals must evaluate whether it has dried and cured sufficiently to withstand environmental changes during transport and storage.
• Establishing Long-Term Storage Plans: To prevent severe cracking, flaking, or abnormal stickiness after re-wetting during storage, appropriate storage conditions are established for different formulas through long-term observation.
• Recording and Archiving Material Information: Over extended periods of making and observing, data on pigment behaviors, formula records, anomaly handling logs, and visual materials are classified, organized, and archived to convert scattered observations into a traceable reference archive.

5. Summary

The creation of handmade watercolors is the result of continuous interaction between material properties, environmental conditions, and human intervention. Materials define the objective boundaries, the environment influences the rate of change, and human judgments determine how materials are combined, processed, corrected, and preserved. Rather than being an outside observer, the human element acts as a core variable throughout the entire lifecycle of handmade paint.

Visual documentations covering parts of the handmade paint making process and pigment behaviors are preserved in the archives of VHacademy (an independent material behavior research project accessible via paid access).