Jackman's Art Materials Blog

What Is California Proposition 65? Understanding Prop 65 Warnings on Art Materials If you’ve ever seen a label on your art supplies stating something like “This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm,” you’ve encountered a Proposition 65 warning. But what exactly is Prop 65, and what does it mean for artists? What Is Proposition 65? California Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is a law that requires businesses to provide clear warnings if their products expose consumers to...

Watercolour painting is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world, with roots reaching back to prehistoric cave art. Early humans ground earth pigments into powders and mixed them with water, plant sap, or animal fat to create rudimentary paints, using these to decorate the walls of caves such as those at Lascaux in France.

Understanding Colour Theory in Art: A Guide for Artists Colour is one of the most powerful tools in an artist’s toolkit. Whether you’re painting landscapes, abstracts, or portraits, understanding colour theory can elevate your work, helping you create emotion, harmony, contrast, and depth. This guide explores the fundamentals of colour theory and how to apply it in your art practice. What Is Colour Theory? Colour theory is the science and art of using colour. It explains how colours interact, how they can be combined harmoniously, and how they affect mood and composition. Rooted in centuries of artistic and scientific study,...

Graphite: History, Properties & Uses in Art & Tech - Jackman's Art Materials Everything You Need to Know About Graphite **Graphite** is one of the most familiar materials to artists, engineers, and scientists alike. Known primarily for its use in pencils, graphite is a naturally occurring form of crystalline carbon with a fascinating history, unique properties, and a wide array of applications in both traditional and high-tech industries. --- What Is Graphite? Graphite is an **allotrope of carbon**, meaning it’s one of the structural forms that the element carbon can take. Unlike diamond, which has a tightly bonded tetrahedral structure,...

How Vegetable Glycerin Works in Paint Making Vegetable glycerin is used in paint as a humectant to retain moisture and a plasticizer to improve flexibility. It prevents watercolours from drying out too quickly and helps them remain easy to rewet. It softens gum Arabic, reducing brittleness and preventing paint from flaking off the paper. It helps maintain paint consistency, ensuring smooth application and long-lasting quality. The correct balance is essential: Too much glycerin makes the paint sticky and slow to dry. Too little glycerin makes the paint hard and difficult to rewet. Proper formulation ensures stable, high-performance paint.