Besides making paints, now there is a newly found use for the ancient pigment, Egyptian Blue Frit. This pigment, made by heating a mixture of copper, quartz, sand, lime, and an alkali, dates from 3250 BCE and was used to decorate tombs, statues, coffins, and temple walls in Egypt during the long reign of the Pharaohs. Who Knew Pigments Could Be … [Read more...] about Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life
Egyptian pigments
Creme d la creme of White Pigments – Part l
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
Current Events
Because of my involvement with this Ancient Egyptian Part Two pigment project, I feel a connection and fascination with the current events in Egypt. It is both horrifying and mesmerizing to watch things unfold from day to day. During my two years of research and studies since traveling there and seeing so many sacred places, I have become … [Read more...] about Current Events
Irresistible
The combination of malachite with azurite makes the most luscious pigment, and I just can't resist using lots of it. This detail shows a small jar in one of the new paintings in the Part ll project. … [Read more...] about Irresistible
More Dung Stories
These quirky stories about pigment making from the past are completely irresistible, and Philip Ball's book, Bright Earth, is full of lively tales. The herb indigo is considered a dye rather than a pigment and is sometimes described as a lake (lac) pigment which is a commonly used word for dye. Ball quotes from a twelfth century manuscript: … [Read more...] about More Dung Stories