Artists 2/3

Science of Alchemy: Alchemical Innovations

Sylvia Rose

Oct 30, 20246 min read

Science of Alchemy: Alchemical Innovations

Alchemy these days is often seen only as a mystical practice purveying the clic hé of turning base metals into gold. Alchemy is in fact...

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Etch Carnelian Beads Like It's Indus Valley 2500 BCE

Sylvia Rose

Oct 24, 20245 min read

Etch Carnelian Beads Like It's Indus Valley 2500 BCE

The Indus Valley Civilization of the Bronze Age is one of the earliest urban societies, famous for trade, inventiveness and extraordinary...

20 views

Iron III Acetate - Formula, Production, Use

Sylvia Rose

Oct 23, 20245 min read

Iron III Acetate - Formula, Production, Use

Iron III acetate, or ferric acetate, is a non-toxic compound in numerous scientific and industrial applications. Ferric acetate is a...

12 views

Heavy Metals Cadmium, Mercury, Lead, Chromium & Arsenic

Sylvia Rose

Oct 21, 20246 min read

Heavy Metals Cadmium, Mercury, Lead, Chromium & Arsenic

Toxic heavy metals cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium, and arsenic are elements known for high density and toxicity even in small amounts....

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Arsenic Trioxide: Paris Green Paint Pigment & Pesticide

Sylvia Rose

Oct 21, 20244 min read

Arsenic Trioxide: Paris Green Paint Pigment & Pesticide

Arsenic trioxide is a toxic compound with a a long and complex history, known at least by the time of the ancient Romans. Here's a look...

45 views

Paints of the Artist's Palette in Renaissance Europe

Sylvia Rose

Oct 17, 20246 min read

Paints of the Artist's Palette in Renaissance Europe

Artists of Renaissance Europe cultivate palettes rich in colors sourced from elements both enchanting and lethal. The Renaissance is...

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Gouache Painting: Artist Essentials & Art Tips

Sylvia Rose

Oct 17, 20244 min read

Gouache Painting: Artist Essentials & Art Tips

Gouache painting has a unique charm and offers versatility for artists and art appreciators. This unctuous type of paint delivers vibrant...

15 views

Bright Common Nails: Composition to Corrosion

Sylvia Rose

Oct 17, 20243 min read

Bright Common Nails: Composition to Corrosion

Bright common nails in hardware are used in construction, woodworking, and various DIY projects from building to pigment making. Bright...

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Gum Arabic, Guar, Xanthan: Guide for Artists & Artisans

Sylvia Rose

Oct 15, 20245 min read

Gum Arabic, Guar, Xanthan: Guide for Artists & Artisans

Thickening gums such as gum arabic, guar and xanthan gums are indispensable for creation of inks and pigment by individual or industrial...

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Sylvia Rose

Oct 15, 20245 min read

Elemental Carbon (C) Facts & Secrets

Carbon is the ubiquitous element. Art, beauty, science and health pivot around the life force of carbon. Carbon is a complex element...

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Make Black Ink or Paint Pigment with Soot

Sylvia Rose

Oct 14, 20243 min read

Make Black Ink or Paint Pigment with Soot

Soot, also loosely called lampblack or carbon black, is traditionally used to make ink, painters' pigment, medicines and makeup. A...

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Soot & Lampblack: Beauty, Art and Medicine

Sylvia Rose

Oct 14, 20246 min read

Soot & Lampblack: Beauty, Art and Medicine

Soot is as old as fire. A dark, powder formed by incomplete burning of organic matter, it's used for centuries due to its easy...

11 views

Metal to Rust: Unseen Organisms in Action

Sylvia Rose

Oct 13, 20243 min read

Metal to Rust: Unseen Organisms in Action

Rust, the reddish-brown coating on metals, is formed by exposure to oxygen and moisture. Responsible for this phenomenon are several...

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Tungsten: Elusive Metal of Light, Art & Industry

Sylvia Rose

Oct 12, 20245 min read

Tungsten: Elusive Metal of Light, Art & Industry

Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is a rare and versatile metal. In nature, tungsten is found in ore form, combined with other elements....

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Molybdochalkos: Nigredo Black Lead of Maria

Sylvia Rose

Oct 12, 20242 min read

Molybdochalkos: Nigredo Black Lead of Maria

Molybdochalkos is a blend of copper and lead. It's the standard metal used in the kerotakis, an alchemical creation attributed to Maria...

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Eight Dye Plants & Natural Dyes in History

Sylvia Rose

Oct 11, 20246 min read

Eight Dye Plants & Natural Dyes in History

From vibrant reds extracted from roots to the deep blues synthesized from leaves, plants have abundant natural dyes and also health...

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Sylvia Rose

Oct 10, 20244 min read

Prague: Bohemians of the Renaissance

Prague is an epicenter of medieval and Renaissance Bohemian culture, art and architecture. Capital of today's Czech Republic, Prague has...

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The Four Medici Popes: Controversial Connections

Sylvia Rose

Oct 9, 20244 min read

The Four Medici Popes: Controversial Connections

Four Medici Popes shape history during their reigns: Pope Leo X, Pope Clement VII, Pope Pius IV, and Pope Leo XI. Centered in Florence,...

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Sylvia Rose

Oct 9, 20241 min read

Experiments With Rust: Going 4 the Gold

Experimenting with rust. Mmm rust. Amazing how many colors it gives out. I'm trying for an earthy gold and a couple other tones. On the...

1 view

Thirty Years' War Europe: Five Major Battles

Sylvia Rose

Oct 7, 20243 min read

Thirty Years' War Europe: Five Major Battles

The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) is one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. Up to 8 million people lose their lives...

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