While at the Smithsonian Museum this past March, I found many examples of pigments as they are found in nature. This chunk shows the beautiful greens of malachite with true blue veins of azurite. Coming in March 2011 Lessons from the Pharaoh's Tomb, Part ll, Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena … [Read more...] about Malachite in the Raw
Oil Change
As I said in the previous post, the Egyptian artists mixed pigment with egg or acacia sap which is also known a gum arabic. Both are binders for a water based paint. Another binder for water based paint is acrylic or egg yolk or even sometimes the whole egg. Often egg is used as a binder in oil painting also. The equivalent to this in oil … [Read more...] about Oil Change
One More Done
Painting #2 for the Lessons from the Pharaoh Part ll exhibit is now complete also, a small detail shown here. Because of the expense of malachite, and because there was a large enough pile of paint remaining, I used it again here in the vase of this second painting. It would be a terrible waste to let it dry up on my palette. Usually, if there … [Read more...] about One More Done
One Down, Many to Go
This detail is from the first completed painting in the new Part ll project which shows both versions of malachite. Impasto paint was floated onto the surface of the jar in the focal areas. Across the table is a golden cloth which is used as a perfect foil for the bluish green of the jar setting it off nicely. According to Francois Delamare and … [Read more...] about One Down, Many to Go
Rublev and Zecchi Walked into a Bar….
Rublev malachite, from Natural Pigments, is shown on the left. Zecchi malachite scuro (dark), from Zecchi's Art Supply in Florence, Italy is on the right. Both dry pigments are ground in linseed oil. I have been hoarding the Zecchi color since I bought it in Florence in 2003. It is darker and richer than most other products and was invaluable in … [Read more...] about Rublev and Zecchi Walked into a Bar….
Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part Two
Announcing Lessons from the Pharaoh's Tomb, Part Two Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena, in March 2011. More intriguing myths, Gods, Goddesses, symbols, tombs, temples and stories from Ancient Egypt featuring pigments and new paintings. With only a few exceptions, all paintings in this new series will be created using pigments used by Egyptian … [Read more...] about Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part Two