Additives for glue painting

[rick2009]

Greetings, season's best to you,

When painting with rabbits skin glue (1 part to 10 parts water, heated to 140-180 F initially .. just warmed thereafter)...

What amount of aluminum sulfate could be added w/o altering the look of the paint film/pigments ( mostly minerals ) ?

As a final wash to ensure less susceptibility to water damage... what formula of alum to water could be used (parts alum to parts water )
How should it be applied ?

How long should I let my rabbit skin glue painting cure before applying it ?

What about integrating the alum with the glue/water medium ?

I paint about 10 layers at times and I'm hoping to optimize drying time and avoid cracking.

I found the idea of using zinc as a white interesting... would it not crack if used with this medium ? I understand that in oil mediums, for instance, there is a danger of it becoming brittle and cracking.

What is your opinion of egg shell white ? Could it be used with oil or with this rabbit skin glue based distemper medium ? I have not tried it and have only just heard about it being a bright white.

What type of alcohol could be used to wet pigments to be used with a glue/distemper method ?

Would ox gall weaken the film or alter the appearance of the work ?

Are there additives that might help prevent cracking ?

What is the role of clove oil in glue distemper technique ? How much should be added ? Does it alter the look of the paint film ?

PS : I noticed you have some interesting black pigments. Could you please recommend one that would be the best choice for glue distemper painting ?

[George O'Hanlon]

When painting with rabbits skin glue (1 part to 10 parts water, heated to 140–180º F. initially... just warmed thereafter). What amount of aluminum sulfate could be added w/o altering the look of the paint film/pigments (mostly minerals)?

The purpose of adding aluminum sulfate (alum) to animal skin glue is to harden the proteins in the glue, making it less susceptible to water, but not impervious to water. You can add a solution of alum to rabbit skin or hide glue solution. We recommend 10 grams of alum for every 100 grams of animal skin glue. Add the alum powder to warm water and dissolve it prior to adding it to the animal skin glue solution. This amount of alum should not affect the appearance of the paint.

As a final wash to ensure less susceptibility to water damage... what formula of alum to water could be used (parts alum to parts water)
How should it be applied?

Add 10 grams of alum to 100 grams of hot water, dissolve it completely and apply it as a wash over the dried paint film. You can also use formaldehyde. Natural Pigments has a formaldehyde solution in a spray bottle that is prepared just for this purpose: Formaldehyde (8 fl oz).

How long should I let my rabbit skin glue painting cure before applying it?

Rabbit skin glue does not need to "cure." Simply let it dry to the touch before over painting.

What about integrating the alum with the glue/water medium?

Yes, you can add the alum solution to the glue solution. See the first answer above.

I found the idea of using zinc as a white interesting... would it not crack if used with this medium? I understand that in oil mediums, for instance, there is a danger of it becoming brittle and cracking.

Zinc oxide does not cause cracking of animal skin glue paint as it does in oil paint.

What is your opinion of egg shell white? Could it be used with oil or with this rabbit skin glue based distemper medium? I have not tried it and have only just heard about it being a bright white.

Egg shell white is a form of calcium carbonate and can be used in distemper painting (animal skin glue).

What type of alcohol could be used to wet pigments to be used with a glue/distemper method?

You can use rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) or ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Vodka also works for this purpose.

Would ox gall weaken the film or alter the appearance of the work?

It does not weaken the paint film, but it can change the appearance of the pigments in a paint film, since it causes them to disperse.

Are there additives that might help prevent cracking?

There are not additives to prevent cracking. Distemper painting should be done on rigid substrates.

What is the role of clove oil in glue distemper technique? How much should be added? Does it alter the look of the paint film?

Clove oil and its essential ingredient, eugenol, are preservatives to prevent mold from developing in the glue solution.

PS: I noticed you have some interesting black pigments. Could you please recommend one that would be the best choice for glue distemper painting?

All the black pigments offered by Natural Pigments can be used in distemper painting. There are no "best choices," but rather choices based on the technique or desired application.

[rick2009]

Thank you for replying.

Another question... can stack process lead white be used in rabbit skin glue painting ?

All of the best,

[George O'Hanlon]

Another question... can stack process lead white be used in rabbit skin glue painting?

Yes, it can be used in distemper.