Recipes

 Gelatin solution

Imported gelatin, sold as thin 3 x 9 sheets packages, are a great quality product that can be stored easily. You can also use powdered gelatin which is cheaper and works just as well for this recipe.

procedure :

Soak the sheets in water for 15 minutes, or until they start swelling. gently heat using a double boiler until completely dissolved.

For a second coat, reheat de solution and add 2 tablespoons of chalk for a nice, smooth surface. Apply with a flat brush and let dry. 

 rabbit skin glue

procedure :

Animal skin glue (rabbit, cow, parchment) is usually sold in sheets or powder. Soak the glue in water for 30 minutes (bigger chunks of glue require a whole night soaking before dissolving). Heat in a double boiler while stirring until completely dissolved.

 traditional chalk gesso for panels

procedure :

Mix all dry pigments together in an enamelled saucepan, then slowing incorporate the warm glue solution while stirring to eliminate bubbles and aggregates. Filter the gesso through a cheesecloth, and let sit for 30 minutes before using.

OPTIONNAL :Brush the panel with alcohol and let dry.

Apply the warm gesso in a single direction without retouching the surface. Apply the next coats in opposite direction (alternating). You can put as many as 5 very thin coats to obtain a perfectly even and smooth surface. To avoid cracking, we recommend that you wait at least 24 hours between coats and 2 days before the final sanding (with # 220 sand paper or finer).

 gum Arabic solution : Watercolor / Gouache

procedure :

In a double-boiler, gently heat the water and add the Gum Arabic while stirring. Natural gum in powder form takes less time to dissolve than gum sold in chunks. Once the solution cools down, cover and let sit until the solution becomes clear. Filter through a cheesecloth into a clean container. Keep refrigerated to prevent rotting. You can substitute 25% of the water with white vinegar to help preservation but you need to add it after the solution has cooled. Never heat directly or the solution will burn.

Good idea: recycle a glass jar preferably with a metal top. That way, you will be able to use that container to prepare and store your solution.

To prepare gouache, you can use a bigger proportion of dry pigments with the gum water solution or add china clay, talc or calcium carbonate to opacify the paint.

 Simple painting medium: Stand oil, dammar and turpentine

We use Stand oil in this medium because it produces a tougher, more flexible paint film than raw linseed oil and has less a tendency to yellow over time. Concentrated dammar varnish will bring lustre and transparency to the medium. The first layers of paint should contain more turpentine than oil, and gradually as the work progresses, the recipe of the medium should substitute part of the turpentine by stand oil and dammar, to follow the rule commonly known as fat over lean.

procedure :

Mix all ingredients at room temperature in a clean glass jar and stir until the medium is smooth and homogenous.

 Beeswax paste

procedure :

First, melt the beeswax in a double-boiler. Remove from heat and add the turpentine slowly while stirring. If the wax solidifies when you add the turpentine, heat it lightly while mixing. A good trick to avoid this problem is to keep the turpentine slightly warmer than room temperature.
Remove from heat and stir approximately 10 minutes and pour into a clean glass container. The wax mixture will eventually cool down to solidify as a paste. Do not overheat the turpentine at anytime nor expose it to a direct flame.

 Painting medium: wax, resin and oil

procedure :

First, melt the wax alone using a double boiler. Remove from heat and gradually add the dammar varnish stand oil and turpentine while stirring. If the wax solidifies when you add the turpentine, carefully heat the medium lightly while mixing until you obtain a liquid consistency. NOTE: Keeping all ingredients lightly warmer that room temperature will generally allow you to avoid the problem of solidification. Once everything is mixed, remove from heat and stir for a minimum of 10 minutes. While cooling this medium will thicken slightly to a "doughy" consistency. Do not overheat turpentine or expose it to a direct flame as it may catch fire.
For the cold encaustic technique, the turpentine can be reduced to 4 parts (1/3 of the original recipe) or totally omitted to obtain a solid medium (in this case you might need to use heat to paint with this medium).

 Glazing medium: Stand oil and dammar varnish

procedure :

In a clean glass bottle, combine ingredients at room temperature. Stir sufficiently to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Sun thicken linseed oil can replace stand oil (though more expensive). The amount of turpentine can vary according to how thick you want your glazing medium to be.

 Glazing medium: Venice turpentine and Oil

procedure :

Combine all ingredients at room temperature in a clean glass container by agitating vigorously for 5-10 minutes. Adjust the viscosity of the medium with gum turpentine. This oil painting glazing medium is very thick, rapidly becomes sticky, preventing the formation of wings, but takes several days to dry completely.
You can replace the stand oil with sun thickened linseed oil to accelerate the drying time somewhat, you can also use a drying agent: cobalt/zirconium dryer.

 Glazing mediums: Canadian balsam and oil

procedure :

Combine ingredients in a glass container, and adjust the viscosity with gum turpentine. This glazing medium produces a strong paint film with incomparable lustre while barely yellowing in time. In addition, its pleasant aroma of fir tree fills the room!

You can replace the stand oil with sun thickened linseed oil to accelerate the drying time somewhat, you can also use a drying agent: cobalt/zirconium dryer.

 Concentrated dammar varnish (Gloss varnish)

procedure :

Place the pieces of resin and the turpentine in a well closed bottle. Stir and turn every day until the resin is dissolved, which could take several days. Exposing the bottle to the sun accelerates the process. This solution has a thick consistency of honey. If some pieces of the dammar resin contain dirt or other impurities, pour the solution through a cheesecloth or decant in a clean bottle.

 dammar and beeswax (matte varnish)

procedure :

First, melt the beeswax and add the remaining ingredients. To make sure everything is properly mixed, you might have to lightly heat the mixture over an electric hotplate or double-boiler until the wax melts into the solution. In a glass bottle or jar, slowly pour the hot solution to prevent the shattering of the glass container.

To use as a final picture varnish, we recommend you thin this recipe by adding more gum turpentine, making it more liquid and easier for brushing.

Related pages :

• Online store: Natural resins' page
• Online store: Waxes' page
• Online store: Siccative oils' page
  
  
• Information : How to make paint ?
• Information : What is paint ?