LXXVI. An oil to grind colours with, when the works are much exposed to the injuries of the weather.LXXVII. To marble and jasper paper.

Valuable Secrets concerning Arts and Trades:
or Approved Directions, from the best Artists, for the Various Methods...
Printed by Thomas Hubbard,
Norwich, 1795Chap. V. Secrets concerning colours & painting.

§ VIII. Preparations of colours of all sorts for oil, water, and crayons.


LXXVI. An oil to grind colours with, when the works are much exposed to the injuries of the weather.

Take two ounces of mastich in drops, very clear, and grind it with lintseed oil. Then put in a well-glazed pipkin any quantity of that oil, and fetit on the fire to boil. By little and little introduce in that boiling oil the above prepared mastich, stirring; well the whole to mix and incorporate it better. When done, take it off from the fire, and let it cool. Such is the preparation of oil with which you are to grind your colours, when they are to be much exposed to the injuries of the weather, for they will refill it.


LXXVII. To marble and jasper paper.

1. Grind all the colours you want to employ (such as lake, massicot, indigo, yellow and red ocher, etc. etc.) with bullock's gall; grind each separately, and keep them so. Then have a large and wide pan filled with lukewarm gum-water. Sur well that water with a stick. While it is thus in great motion, and your colours being ready under your hand, with a large brush take of each separately, as much as the tip of the brush will carry, and touch only the surface of the water with it. The colours will immediately expand. Each colour requires a particular brush to itself. Therefore, with another brush, take of another colour, and do the same; and, with another, of another, and so on, till you have put on your water all those you have destined for the purpose.

2. When the water ceases to turn, you will plainly perceive all the variety occasioned by the different colours. Then, taking your sheet of paper, lay it flat on the water, leave it there for about two or three minutes, and, without taking it out, give it one turn round on the water, then pull it by one of the edges to the side of the pan, washit, dry it, and burnish it afterwards.

Note. The paper must be chosen good, and the water sized with gum-adragant.