Reaction of Lead Alkyd Primer on Solid Rose Gold and Copper ApproveRejectUn-ApproveSubscribeUn-Unsubscribe
Question asked 2023-08-22 07:46:27 ...
Most recent comment 2023-08-24 12:43:02
Oil Paint
Rigid Supports
Alkyd
Hello,
I've
been testing Rublev Lead Alkyd Ground on rose gold and copper (for a
miniature painting in oils, fitted into a jewellery piece), and would be very grateful for any insight into a particular reaction I’ve been getting.
I’ve
asked on this wonderful forum before about painting in oils on solid
22ct gold (I’ve been working on a few of these pieces in the
interim, trying to find the best primers, mediums and varnishes!) and
have only just got hold of some Lead Alkyd Ground in the UK. Apart
from the benefits of lead for the paint film, the later pieces have
now switched to a rose gold support; since this contains more copper,
I thought that using a lead primer would be even more beneficial.
My
first question is a fact-check about the idea that lead binds
advantageously to copper through a chemical reaction: I’ve read
this several times online, usually from artists – is there actually
any truth to this and if so does it create a stronger bond between
metal and primer?
My
second question is about a strange effect I get when brushing it out
(I’m working on a 1cm high oval so it needs to be perfectly smooth
at that scale, so I brush it out a lot more than usual). After lots
of smoothing, the white primer turned grey, and even stained my brush tip
grey! When I wiped it off the gold, it looked like black powdery
tarnish on the rag.
It
did the same thing on both the rose gold and a pure copper test
piece (which I assumed ruled out the gold and silver in the rose gold). I used two different synthetic brushes to try and rule out
contaminants. If I didn’t brush it much, it looked absolutely
normal on both supports (but then I’d have to sand down lead
primer!)
I'm
wondering what this chemical reaction is please, and if it would
compromise the painting? If it's just the advantageous reaction of
copper and lead, and I brought the product to the surface by
brushing, then great – I’ll just have to brighten it with a first
coat of white paint! I asked Natural Pigments this question, but they
weren’t sure why this could be happening.
Phew
- thanks for reading all this, and any help would be very much
appreciated!
Ellie
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