How to Make Drawing Charcoal — A Medieval Recipe from Cennino Cennini
How to make drawing charcoal like the old masters did? Here’s a 15th-century method from Cennino Cennini — willow twigs, a sealed pot, and a baker’s oven. No shortcuts.
Terra rossa underfoot
Hi Michał, we’re in Novigrad, Croatia. Do you happen to know what that rusty-looking stuff is?– Yes. That’s terra rossa. A product of karst weathering,
Illusion
This is the moment when I squint my eyes, and through the narrow slits, the image comes in simplified, as if seen from a distance.
The Hidden Manganese Cave and the Birth of a Black Pigment
We crawled underground, covered in clay, to find a cavity filled with black sand—natural pigment that dries faster than any store-bought medium I’ve used.
Black Sand and Manganese – A Cave Pigment Expedition
Black Sand and Manganese – A Cave Pigment Expedition – Were you scared?– Of course I was. But admitting it? That would be a shame.–
Gilding
Gold leaf gilding is a traditional craft I had always wanted to learn. Learning the Art of Gold Leaf Gilding At the →art conservation studio,
I Had to Give In
Oh well. White is white—so what’s the big deal, right? Not quite. Semi-glazing titanium white is something else entirely. With this one in the studio,
Clear the Way—Barite Coming Through!
Try saying „barite” in a conversation with a photographer. Instantly, you’ll be tossed into a drawer labeled “Knows Things.” Say „museum-quality barite”, and right away,
Stink
Lucky are those who have no problem with turpentine. I do. Working in a professional mask is far from pleasant, but sometimes it’s necessary. Over