Experiments with Alternate Grounds

I live a long way from shops

and I do a lot via the internet

and the postal service

But I really like to find alternatives

to do things myself

so as I have to buy whiting

a form of calcium carbonate used to make

traditional gesso

I thought I might have a play 

with alternatives

The first two samples

are cuttlefish bone ground in a mortar and pestle

this is mixed with rabbit skin glue

* glue mix

this is chicken bones 

that were loose in the fire overnight

in the morning they were a lovely soft white

crushed in a mortar and pestle

top with rabbitskin glue on fabric

below with the glue mix*

The next two samples 

are made with shell nacre

I found if I heat it with the blow torch 

it separates and becomes very brittle

and easy to break up

it is then crushed in a mortar and pestle

again the top is rabbitskin glue on fabric

and below is Glue mix

This is cuttlefish and rabbitskin glue

which has then been printed with egg yolk

and then dipped in Purple Carrot

and Bloodroot, both dissolved in methylated spirit

the glue used through out to stick down the pieces

is skim milk powder and water

*Glue mix consists of equal parts 

white sugar and white flour

mixed with water

Normally this would be cooked

But I did not do that 

this time

I will repeat this experiment

but next time

I will use my studio spice grinder 

for a finer result

I also now have a darker bone powder

made by enclosing the bones in a tin

and therefore excluding the air

before placing in the fire

and questions

or feedback

please leave a comment

x te