Milk Paint Recipe

By pknaub

Ingredients

• juice of a lemon
• 1 quart of skim milk
• cheesecloth
• 4 tablespoons of dry color pigment (available at art-supply stores)(Artists' acrylic paint also can be used in place of powdered pigment)

Details

Adapted from marthastewart.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Mix the juice of a lemon with 1 quart of skim milk in a large bowl. Leave the mixture overnight at room temperature to induce curdling.

2. Pour it through a sieve lined with cheesecloth to separate the solid curds from the liquid whey. Add 4 tablespoons of dry color pigment (available at art-supply stores) to the curd; be sure to wear a mask, and stir until the pigment is evenly dispersed. Artists' acrylic paint also can be used in place of powdered pigment.

3. Add it one drop at a time, and stir constantly until you achieve the desired hue. Whether pigment- or acrylic-based, milk paint will spoil quickly, so it should be applied within a few hours of mixing. Rest assured, its sour smell will disappear once the paint dries. If you prefer, you can purchase milk paint rather than make it yourself.