Where to get powdered paint from?

August 17, 2012 3:55 AM

Where do I get powdered paint from similar to Holi, the Indian Festival of Colour?

I am going Larping next weekend and I need to get some powdered paint to throw around. I'm hoping for a stage-like effect very similar to Holi, the Indian Colour Festival.

What would be best to use? Last year I used powdered chalk dust - which was not great. Are there any toxic powdered paints? Where would I buy them from?

posted by Cogentesque to Shopping (6 answers total)

Response by poster: Forgot to add - I'm in the South UK (Southampton).

Thanks all
posted by Cogentesque at 4:00 AM on August 17, 2012

Best answer: I searched for holi powder on amazon.co.uk and found some cheap stuff Presumably it's non-toxic stuff that you're looking for. Art supplies stores sell tempera paint powder.
posted by knile at 4:03 AM on August 17, 2012

There have been reports of toxic powders around, so check on the source.
posted by neutralmojo at 5:15 AM on August 17, 2012

Sorry that I don't have a link, but what you'll want is more like colored talc, not powdered paint. And even so, be careful about not inhaling a ton of that!
posted by vetala at 5:51 AM on August 17, 2012

I'm pretty sure you can get corn starch wet, add food coloring, and then let it dry out again. Seems to be what a lot of people do and should be non-toxic.
posted by miratime at 6:08 AM on August 17, 2012

Best answer: Its called gulal and rangoli, that may help the search a bit or ask for these in Indian groceries. They are part of the prayer/ritual as well for many communities. For eg, Amazon UK sells gulal as puja gulal (puja meaning prayer) but looks a bit expensive
posted by infini at 6:26 AM on August 17, 2012