Art & Culture 3/14

Cornstarch: Cuisine, Beauty, Cleaning Uses

Sylvia Rose

Nov 9, 20245 min read

Cornstarch: Cuisine, Beauty, Cleaning Uses

Cornstarch, also called corn flour, is a common ingredient worldwide. A fine, white powder derived from the endosperm of corn kernels,...

12 views

Scheele's Green: History's Most Toxic Pigment

Sylvia Rose

Nov 9, 20245 min read

Scheele's Green: History's Most Toxic Pigment

Scheele's Green is a rich, vibrant green. Its color appeal surpasses that of the copper carbonate paints of the late 18th century and...

30 views

Copper(II) Sulfate: Blue Vitriol, Chalcanthite

Sylvia Rose

Nov 7, 20245 min read

Copper(II) Sulfate: Blue Vitriol, Chalcanthite

Copper (II) sulfate CuSO4 yields a vivid color and widespread applications. Also known as blue vitriol in alchemy and chalcanthite in...

9 views

Lye (NaOH): Caustic Soda for Soap & Glass

Sylvia Rose

Nov 5, 20244 min read

Lye (NaOH): Caustic Soda for Soap & Glass

Lye or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a vital part of human history. Also called caustic soda, lye is a white odorless solid. A strong...

7 views

Fungal Biofilms: Ecology of Biofilm-Producing Molds & Yeasts

Sylvia Rose

Nov 4, 20245 min read

Fungal Biofilms: Ecology of Biofilm-Producing Molds & Yeasts

Fungal biofilms are integral to ecosystems. Often unnoticed, these living structures exemplify microorganism cooperation in survival,...

23 views

Glycerin (Glycerol): Darling of Cosmetics, Health & Science

Sylvia Rose

Nov 4, 20246 min read

Glycerin (Glycerol): Darling of Cosmetics, Health & Science

Glycerin, also known as glycerol or glycerine, is a simple polyol compound with the chemical formula C3H8O3. This colorless, odorless,...

11 views

Iron(III) Oxide: Creation, Art & Science

Sylvia Rose

Nov 3, 20245 min read

Iron(III) Oxide: Creation, Art & Science

Iron(III) oxide or ferric oxide (Fe2O3) yields a striking red color as a pigment, and has a wide range of uses. From industrial...

2 views

Oil-Dwelling Microbes: Bacteria, Yeast & Mold

Sylvia Rose

Nov 3, 20246 min read

Oil-Dwelling Microbes: Bacteria, Yeast & Mold

Culinary oils are teeming with microbial life such as bacteria, molds, yeast and other fungi. Popular oils like olive oil, vegetable oil,...

20 views

Silverpoint Drawing: Art of the Renaissance

Sylvia Rose

Nov 1, 20245 min read

Silverpoint Drawing: Art of the Renaissance

Silverpoint is a drawing medium with distinct artistic potential. This delicate and precise medium has a rich history, unique properties,...

7 views

Sylvia Rose

Nov 1, 20248 min read

11 Favorite Drawing Mediums of Artists

Drawing is a creative expression for humans since cave paintings of prehistory. In art, anything making a mark is a drawing tool....

8 views

Sanguine: Red Chalk of Renaissance Masters

Sylvia Rose

Nov 1, 20245 min read

Sanguine: Red Chalk of Renaissance Masters

Sanguine is a rich, reddish-brown chalk beloved by Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo. Creating flesh-like tones in the human form...

12 views

Guar Gum: Unique Qualities for Art & Crafts

Sylvia Rose

Nov 1, 20245 min read

Guar Gum: Unique Qualities for Art & Crafts

Guar gum is recognized for its unique natural properties in visual arts and crafting. From enhancing textures to creating custom paints,...

7 views

Sylvia Rose

Oct 31, 20243 min read

Mosaic Gold: Alchemy of a Forgotten Art

Mosaic gold is also known to alchemists as aurum musivum or aurum mosaicum due to its mottled formation. Forgotten in the data fields...

10 views

Chloroauric Acid: Gold Salts & Extraction

Sylvia Rose

Oct 31, 20243 min read

Chloroauric Acid: Gold Salts & Extraction

Chloroauric acid H[AuCl4] is a yellow solution created in the 18th century. A gold(III) salt, chloroauric acid is an innovative compound,...

10 views

Aromatic Cold Oil Infusions: DIY Alchemy Perfumes

Sylvia Rose

Oct 31, 20244 min read

Aromatic Cold Oil Infusions: DIY Alchemy Perfumes

Aromatic cold infused oil is a rich artisan tradition of culture and the art of allure. This ancient form of perfume-making connects...

5 views

Artisan Perfumery: Four Degrees of Fragrance

Sylvia Rose

Oct 30, 20243 min read

Artisan Perfumery: Four Degrees of Fragrance

Perfumes are grouped according to their strengths. Every fragrance has a purpose, from a fresh splash of rose or mint to mysterious...

7 views

Practical Alchemy of DIY Perfumes & Aromas

Sylvia Rose

Oct 30, 20244 min read

Practical Alchemy of DIY Perfumes & Aromas

The alchemy of perfumes goes back thousands of years. Here are the practical aspects of perfumes in ancient and medieval times, how...

7 views

Alchemy of Perfumes: Scents, Cologne, Rose Water

Sylvia Rose

Oct 30, 20243 min read

Alchemy of Perfumes: Scents, Cologne, Rose Water

Perfumes are prized in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. The word “perfume” comes from Latin per fumum ,...

6 views

12 Steps to the Magnum Opus: Ripley Scroll

Sylvia Rose

Oct 28, 20247 min read

12 Steps to the Magnum Opus: Ripley Scroll

Alchemy seeks the magnum opus or great work. This twelve step program comes from the anonymous Ripley Scroll, so called as alchemist...

10 views

Prussic Acid: Secrets of Hydrogen Cyanide

Sylvia Rose

Oct 27, 20244 min read

Prussic Acid: Secrets of Hydrogen Cyanide

Prussic acid, widely known as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), is a compound with rich history and unique properties, and one of the most...

7 views