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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....

Sylvia Rose
Oct 21, 20246 min read
29 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 21, 20244 min read
46 views


Meet the Microbes - History of Microbiology
Microbiology explores the world of microbes or micro-organisms. It reveals a hidden dimension of unseen forces shaping health,...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 19, 20245 min read
10 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 17, 20246 min read
16 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 17, 20244 min read
15 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 17, 20243 min read
7 views


10 Ancient Spices of Trade, Health & Beauty
Spices come from distant lands along ancient trade routes. These commodities bring flavor to food, health and beauty to consumers and...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 16, 20246 min read
22 views


Secrets of Xanthan Gum for Artists & Chefs
Xanthan Gum, a versatile ingredient with various applications, is a growing trend in multiple industries. In art and food it's valued as...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20244 min read
22 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20245 min read
39 views


Elemental Carbon (C) Science & Secrets
Carbon is the ubiquitous element. Art, beauty, science and health pivot around the life force of carbon. Here's the nature of carbon, its...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20245 min read
15 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 14, 20243 min read
14 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 14, 20246 min read
15 views


Carbon Steel: Origins, Composition & Uses
Carbon steel is an essential material in various industries, renowned for versatility and strength. Uncover the secrets of carbon steel:...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 14, 20245 min read
8 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20243 min read
20 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 11, 20246 min read
36 views


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...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 9, 20241 min read
1 view


Art of Egg Tempera: Paint Like the Old Masters
Egg tempera painting is beloved for its luminous quality and durability. This method uses egg yolk as a binding agent for pigments, and...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 7, 20247 min read
26 views


Process of Projection in Renaissance Alchemy
Projection, according to experts of the Renaissance, is the final act of alchemical work once the Philosophers' Stone has been made. The...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 6, 20243 min read
15 views


Alchemy & the Magnum Opus - Black White Yellow Red
The Magnum Opus or Great Work is the goal of alchemists. From ancient Alexandria and the wisdom of Maria the Prophetess comes a color...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 5, 20244 min read
13 views


Book of Comarius: Making Gold with Cleopatra
The Book of Comarius is a mysterious tome dedicated to Cleopatra the Divine, or Cleopatra the Alchemist of Alexandria. In it, Comarius, a...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 3, 20245 min read
6 views
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