Item

Item Description

Supplied

Bring

Kit

Portable Fresco Panel

Wood panel and frame to support the fresco plaster. Made from hand-selected, Baltic Birch plywood, ruggedly made to hold your portable fresco with galvanized diamond metal lath.

Yes

Lime Putty

Lime Putty for intonaco and other plaster coats. The lime putty we use comes from our own lime pit, aged at least two years and has been extensively tested for use in fresco. With lime of this purity it is possible to create brilliant fresco painting that will have excellent permanence.

Yes

Sand

Use sharp, fine sand that is well washed and graded to create a 30% void ratio by volume. The void is filled by lime putty to create the proper binder-to-aggregate ratio and represents the 1:3 ratio of binder-to-sand often found in historic fresco plaster.

Yes

Pigments

Eight pigments will be available for use by students at the workshop. However, you may want to bring pigments for your own use at the workshop. You can purchase any of the pigments listed in the Fresco section of the Natural Pigments online store for this workshop. The pigments that will be available at the workshop are:
Ultramarine
Verona Green Earth
Italian Yellow Earth
Venetian Red
Italian Burnt Sienna
Italian Raw Umber
German Vine Black
Bianco San Giovani (lime white)

Yes

Kit

Milk of Lime

Milk of Lime is for tempering pigments and mixing with colors in the first coat of paint.

Yes

Painting Tools

Painting on the moist plaster requires long and soft hair brushes. At the beginning, the plaster surface is sensitive, so broad Kolinsky and Red Sable brushes are best for painting the first colors. When the first coat of color begins to set, long bristle brushes can be used. Kolinsky hair brushes are the best brushes for fresco painting, but the rough surface will wear the hairs quickly. We recommend Kolinsky brushes, if you can afford it, but Red Sable, Fitch and Squirrel hair are also good for fresco painting. Goat hair brushes are well suited for leaving streaky uneven brush strokes that are interesting as accents.

Round Brushes

Kolinsky, Red Sable or Squirrel hair round brushes:
Sizes #2, #4 and #8

Bristle hair round brushes:
Sizes #2, #4 and #8

The exact sizes are not too important, however brushes approximately of this size range should be available.

No

Yes

Flat Brushes

Kolinsky, Red Sable, Fitch or Squirrel hair flat brush:
Size #20 or 20 mm (3/4 inch) wide

Bristle hair flat brush:
Size #20 or 20 mm (3/4 inch) wide

The exact size is not too important but brushes approximately of this size should be available.

No

Yes

Palette

Any palette with 8 to 10 wells, such as the 10-well round plastic palette, 7.5 in. (19 cm) diameter, pictured at left.

No

Yes

Kit

Drawing Tools

Tools and supplies necessary to transfer your drawing to the plaster surface. Other supplies that you will need are: Pencil, HB; Eraser; Drafting tape, 2 cm (0.75 in.) wide; Tacks; Latex gloves and Hand lotion. We will have these items available for you to use at the workshop.

Tracing Paper

Ordinary white bond is suited for drawing and painting the cartoon and transferring it to the fresco plaster.

Yes

Transfer Paper

To transfer designs onto most surfaces. Transfer paper leaves no wax residue to interfere with the acceptance of paint. The transfer marks erase like pencil with no smear. Paint over the tracing won't skip or bead and can be re-used over and over again.

Yes

Stylus

To transfer drawings to a panel with a stylus that will not tear the paper. Rounded points prevent tears, one point for fine work and the other for thicker lines.

No

Yes

Kit

Paint Making Tools

Paint Making Tools are used to mix the dry pigments with water, preparing the colors for application to the wet plaster.

Mortar and Pestle

Porcelain mortar and pestle for grinding pigments. The hard inside surface is unglazed allowing you to easily abrade materials to the degree of fineness needed for painting.

Yes

Kit

Squeeze Bottle

Squeeze bottle with spout cap for dispensing water used to mix with powder pigments.

Yes

Kit

Muller

Glass muller for grinding powder pigments. The bottom of the glass muller is flat and sandblasted to provide an excellent grinding surface.

Use Ours

Grinding Plate

Glass plate with sanded edges for use with the muller to disperse pigments into water.

Use Ours

Spatula

The spatula is used to mix dry pigment powder with water on a glass slab. Use it with a muller and slab to mix pigment with water and scraping accumulated paint from the sides of the muller or to collect paint into the center of the slab.

Use Ours

Wide Mouth Jars

Wide mouth jars for storing pigment ground in water. About 8 to 10 will be needed at the workshop.

Yes

Plaster Tools

Trowels are used to apply plaster and finish the surface before painting. All our tools were selected for their suitability for fresco. They are the finest made to give years of service. The handle rise should be set for the correct “hang” and balance. The blade should be taper-ground and polished to give it the right amount of flexibility.

Mixing Board

The mixing board and mortar pan are used to mix the lime putty and sand. If made of high density polyethylene, it is durable, lightweight and easy to clean after mixing plaster. Dry plaster will not stick to its surface, so clean up is easy.

Use Ours

Mortar Hoe

The mortar hoe is used to mix the plaster and sand together. The holes in the blade allow for more effective mixing on a mixing board or in a mortar pan. The hoe from Natural Pigments head is one-piece forged from carbon steel, riveted to a steel ferrule. This hoe has a heavy-duty 45.7 cm (18-in.) hardwood handle with a sturdy "D" grip.

Use Ours

Gauging Trowel

Gauging Trowel is a versatile tool for transferring plaster (rounded point is ideal for picking plaster out of a pail) and applying plaster. Use to mix or "gauge" small amounts of plaster. The rounded shape of the blade’s heel allows plaster to be carried further forward on the blade. Size: 17,78 x 8,57 cm (7 x 3-3/8 in.)

No

Yes

Kit

Wood Float

Wood Float is used to prepare the surface for troweling or, if a rough finish is desired, floating is the final operation. Ours are made from 1,27 cm (1/2 in.) thick seasoned mahogany with a very smooth finish. The plastic handle is both comfortable and durable. This is the most popular float for fresco: 30,48 x 8,89 cm (12 x 3-1/2 in.).

No

Yes

Kit

Finishing Trowel

Finishing Trowel is used to put a smooth finish on plaster. It compacts the surface adding to its quality and durability. Ours have a high-carbon steel blade is cross-ground (usually only found on better finishing trowels) to hold its shape better. The handle is curved for better handling and machine fitted onto the milled shank. Finishing trowels are narrower and longer than plastering trowels and the blade is slightly convex. Ideal size for fresco most work: 20,3 x 7,6 cm (8 x 3 in.).

No

Yes

Kit

Utility Brush

The short handle brush is for cleaning surfaces and tools. White tampico bristles are set in a high-tensile strength foam plastic block. The scrub brush will not absorb water and is made for long service.

Use Ours

Item

Item Description

Bullnose Pointing Trowel

Bullnose Pointing Trowel is for polishing the final plaster coat prior to transferring the cartoon and the completed fresco. Also useful to apply plaster in tight or curved areas. Pointing trowels are handy for patchwork and cleaning other tools. Size: 13,97 x 4,76 cm (5-1/2 x 1-7/8 in.)

Portable Desk Lamp

Although the workshop location is generally well lighted, a portable desk lamp may be a good idea to bring.

Extension Cord

If you bring a portable desk lamp, you will need to bring a grounded electrical cord between 12 and 18 feet long.