Those of you who have followed this blog know of my passion for historical pigments that have quirky legends attached to them, the quirkier the better. Indeed, there are some mighty bizarre tales related to the making of colors, painting techniques, and stories of strange artists themselves. Well, stack lead white is a color that is … [Read more...] about Creme d la creme of White Pigments – Part l
Pigments: Historical and Modern
There is a distinct difference between modern day pigments and the natural pigments used prior to the middle of the 1700s. In the past, artists had apprentices who ground the colors for them throughout the oil painting sessions. Because they were made by hand, the pigments retained a natural grittiness and consistency with larger particle size. Today's oil paint manufacturers make synthetic colors in huge vats where the end result is exceptional smoothness. Prior to the middle of the 1700, natural pigments came from dirt, minerals, and even plants.
A Basilisk and a Rooster Walked into a Bar
Many of the quirkiest stories I have told have been right here in this blog during my Lessons from the Low Countries series. Remember the one about the red haired man and the basilisk? If you recall, a basilisk is the legendary reptile, hatched by a serpent (or toad, depending on the source) from a rooster’s egg, and is so revolting, if it gazes … [Read more...] about A Basilisk and a Rooster Walked into a Bar
More Rembrandt Mysteries
There is a mystery that has been baffling scholars for a long time. Why did Rembrandt apply gold leaf to the surface of a sheet of copper and paint in oil atop. Why would he cover a perfectly and already beautiful copper surface? Was it the smoothness? Was it an experiment? Nobody really knows for sure. What is known is that it is an intriguing … [Read more...] about More Rembrandt Mysteries
Twists and Turns
This paint on metal project has had many ups and downs with unexpected twists and turns. Mostly, it has been a big experiment with interesting discoveries. My biggest discovery is understanding what I like the look of and what I don't. What has become crystal clear to me is the look of the metal glowing through the paint is really beautiful, … [Read more...] about Twists and Turns
Garlicky Experiments/Trials and Errors
At this point, there are a couple of ways to proceed. If your intent is to use the smooth surface much like a prepared panel, then you can gesso it. Or if you want the natural beauty of the copper to glow through then you don't want an opaque priming. In much of the literature, old school techniques describe a fascinating etching method using … [Read more...] about Garlicky Experiments/Trials and Errors
Pieces of Paint
As I have mentioned, the resulting beauty of the copper shimmering through the paint and brushstrokes is my goal here. Initially, I was wont to cover much of the surface but after many experiments, I began to achieve more of the look I could see in my mind's eye. Because the format is a small modello, 6x6 inches, it is easier to 'play' with the … [Read more...] about Pieces of Paint