Color as the Result of Conditions
In the production of handmade pigments, color is always formed under specific conditions. Under identical raw materials, consistent ratios, and comparable grinding processes, different batches exhibit subtle, batch-specific variations. These variations may appear in hue, particle distribution, sedimentation behavior, or in the way the color spreads and remains under the influence of water.
These variations are not incidental, but an expression of the material as it forms under particular conditions. Pigments do not emerge in a neutral environment; they develop through the interaction of time, ambient humidity, material properties, and decisions made during the production process.
The working approach of VHaquarell is based on this premise.
The production of handmade pigments is not a repetition of predefined results, but a continuous process of formation under given conditions. Grinding duration, environmental factors, the characteristics of the raw materials, and the assessment of material behavior during processing leave identifiable traces in the finished pigment. These characteristics define the specific state of the color and provide each batch with a clearly traceable context of formation.
Once a batch is completed, the color is retained in the state it has reached at the moment of completion. The production process is not oriented toward absolute uniformity, but toward a stable state that emerges under the given conditions.
In use, these pigments respond to varying application conditions. The same color may display different absorption speeds, edge formations, and spreading behaviors on different papers. Variations in water quantity further influence the layering and sedimentation behavior of the color. These phenomena reflect the interaction between material and substrate.
This text does not provide predefined instructions for the use of the pigments. The way color appears is not determined by a single factor, but by the interaction of material, tools, and application conditions. Different conditions lead to different modes of appearance.
Accepting this variability means directing attention to the behavior of the material itself, rather than to the repetition of predefined results. This working approach is not intended for every application scenario, but for those who value material response, process observation, and variation in outcomes, it constitutes an ongoing practice.
This forms VHaquarell’s fundamental understanding of the state of color: color is a material that emerges and operates under specific conditions. Its value lies in its actual behavior and in the observable results.