Natural and Mineral Pigments
Below, Daniel Burge from Ireland grinding lapis lazuli - as you can see quite a grind!
Here are some emails from recent participants:
From Jock
- your workshop has given me so much to think about that it's opened a whole new way of approaching my work - it really is a mind blower - I'll bet it has that effect on a lot of artists...
Below, some exquisite crystals of lapis lazuli embedded in calcite. These specimens are from Afghanistan.
From Lynn Varley
Hi Michael,
I got busy with the holidays and have been out of town. I should have written you sooner to tell you how much I enjoyed the two days at your studio. I learned a great deal, thanks to your perseverance and willingness to share. Of course, I also have so many questions. I see on the Kremer site that you have workshops coming up in 2007. Please let me know if you have a few people who have already had the basic workshop and like me, would be eager to return for a second semester. I read the material you handed out and am glad to have it. Thanks again for an informative and fascinating weekend. I look forward to your book.
Best wishes for a productive and healthy New Year.
Below, Lynn observing how to levigate azurite and purify the pigment.
From Irvin Almonte
Hello Mr. Price:
I just wanted to thank you for your workshop. There comes a point in an artist's life when he learns something from someone that he takes to heart and implements it into his work. Like other artists in the past who've traveled far and were then influenced, you showed me some new possibilities in the quality of work that I can achieve. Unlike Raphael who did not learn something about chromatic volume from the guy next door (Michaelangelo), I'll make good use of what I've learned. So, I simply wanted to thank you for what you've done and are doing.
Below, shows the azurite being ground further to produce the desired blue hues.
And finally, azurite under the microscope showing a fascinating view of the result after levigation. This is a very pure pigment and when applied correctly will produce a blue no longer available on the palette of modern colours.
