In the last few months I’ve read a few ‘older’ books about the technologies in painting.
“A Treatise on Painting” by Cennino Cennini was written around 1437 and translated into English around 1844 “in order to discover the process of the painters in the 14th and 15th centuries”.
Cennini covered subjects such as the making of pigments and which combinations would darken when mixed together, how finely to grind the pigments before adding the medium – often egg yok or linseed oil, and which pigments could be used in which – or not. There were few if any manufacturers of the materials of painting that artists regard as ‘start points’ today. He explains how to glue canvas to panels with rabbit-skin glue and preparing linseed oil by baking in the sun. Chapter titles include “How to draw with a leaden stile” and “What kind of bones are proper to priming pictures.” He also explains which hairs on which animals to use to make brushes.
“Materials for Permanent Painting” was written by Maximillian Toch in 1911.
He writes from the point of view of a chemist who got interested in pigments and starts by saying he was astonished that painters of his day had so little knowledge of the composition of their materials. Many believed the old masters created superior pigments, while the advances of science (such as the discovery of the atom and the understanding of molecules) means that better paints were being produced in Toch’s day, but by paint manufacturers rather than individual artists.
The other environmental change since Cennini’s day was the industrial revolution and the burning of coal. Toch points out the differences in paints produced in areas where the sky was dirty vs. places where it was not so and he covered which pigments were affected by the coally air after painting. This additional understanding led to a list of pigments now known to be toxic.
Not only did he have works like Cennini’s but also several centuries of additional observation of the older paintings, and he had a chapter on restoring old art – I wonder if he read Cennini’s book.
This will be a quiet month, one art fair, four shows, two classes.
Fairs
Jun 2nd: "Celebration of the Arts", Hurless Barton Park, Casa Loma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA
Shows
Apr 18-mid June. Designer's Showcase, Desert Polymer Flooring
Apr 30-Jul 30 : Group Show, High Desert Medical Center Joshua Tree, CA. Reception TBD Mid June.
June 4-July 3rd, Solo Show, Escondido Municipal Gallery, Escondido, CA
June 10-30th, Group Show, Joshua Tree Art Gallery, Joshua Tree, CA
Classes:
June 22nd 10:30am-1pm approx. Watercolor collage fun workshop $45 includes all materials. Rainbow Stew, Yucca Valley Contact me (310) 720-1552 or Rainbow Stew (760) 902 5170 June 20th to book.
June 29th 9am-5pm approx. Painting for absolute beginners - 1-day class $110 includes all materials. 29Palms Art Gallery, 29Palms, CA. Please wear clothes that you won't cry if you get paint on them, though I have a few smocks to share. Bring a snack lunch, the lunch break is short. Call/email gallery book by June 26th. Class maximum 10.
If you email me and then don't hear back within 48 hours, check your spam folder and if you don't find my response, call me.
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