Basic oil paints - demonstraition
First I find an old frame and stretch the table napkin across the back and staple it in place. Remember to
stretch from the center outwards and not from the corners in.
Next I separate the egg keeping the yolk and mix that with some of the saffron. I paint this mixture on to
the stretched napkin. This seals the surface and gives a nice quick drying yellow surface. Those who have
made mayonnaise will also realize that egg yolk will mix with oil if carefully added and it was most likely
this transition that originally led to the development of oil painting anyway.
Next we can grind the colors with our pestle and mortar and mix the powder with the cooking oil making a
thick paste. You might like to experiment here with your shoe polish and zinc cream to get variations of
the colors you need. You will find that mixing the saffron with the white will quickly give you a rather
powerful yellow.
Next I selected a small silver bowl from the china cabinet (as my household is bereft to anything gold) and
placed it where I might paint it ... in the meanwhile changing the silver to gold. Below you will observe my
efforts. This whole demonstration should only take you an hour at most from making your paints to the
finished article while the student can take as long as they like.
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