tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post6175703617066208641..comments2024-03-28T03:44:28.896-04:00Comments on Gurney Journey: Casein ExperimentJames Gurneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-15239214733368798072021-11-01T08:03:33.609-04:002021-11-01T08:03:33.609-04:00I am now 92 and as a youngster I worked with ARTIS...I am now 92 and as a youngster I worked with ARTISTS in the early 1940s and found they were using casein manufactured by the Glidden paint company very successfully on the big boards on each side of the marquee of the hippodrome theater in Baltimore MarylandWalt Kozierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03701723982433715433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-55904450108021898832020-04-29T16:00:52.063-04:002020-04-29T16:00:52.063-04:00Dear James,
I just came to the age of 87 years ol...Dear James, <br />I just came to the age of 87 years old and love to experiment and gouache interested me but did not get to it and casein more so and have seen you on You-tube.<br />I am in the South Sound sketching group here in Olympia where a few of us meet, second Saturdays to sketch and some of us watercolor on our tablets the scene we pick. <br />Love the unusual thought of something different to watercolor where I never thought an unusual scene. So I went right out and down the road is a Bible Campground with little cabins of wood built and being in Quarantine orders the campground is deserted. So asked a grounds keeper if I could sketch and watercolor and I went after one P.M. and we have fir trees everywhere and shadows. I underpainted with Casein and then watercolor two paintings one on my sketch pad and watercolor pad. Took them to my framer to frame the watercolor one. I am a member of Artist Coop Gallery here. I have traveled coast to coast watercoloring where every we been. Husband retired Captain from Submarine and Carrier duty.<br />Children and I were with him duty station to duty station. Now settled here in Washington State. Have had successful sales coast to coast. Have work shown at Fineartamerica.com if you like to see. Going to search for more videos and your books.....Jane KingJane Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04035478703776095556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-26646381696426250372020-01-27T01:23:55.605-05:002020-01-27T01:23:55.605-05:00I have casein made by Shiva in the 70's which ...I have casein made by Shiva in the 70's which are in fine condition -only one tube dried out and I didn't seal them in sandwich bags like I do my gouache tubes, so the casein has a long life it seems! John Killmaster, Casein Revival, Facebook.John Killmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189691397869931762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-39303145610818490252020-01-27T01:16:44.935-05:002020-01-27T01:16:44.935-05:00I have casein from the 70's and only one tube ...I have casein from the 70's and only one tube dried they are the original Shiva . John Killmaster, Casein Revival on Facebook.John Killmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189691397869931762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-54169595096193263802017-10-06T21:04:09.902-04:002017-10-06T21:04:09.902-04:00Thanks James :)Thanks James :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341833927700858911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-77473522729537829032017-10-01T18:56:25.549-04:002017-10-01T18:56:25.549-04:00David, Quick tip: store your gouache and casein tu...David, Quick tip: store your gouache and casein tubes in big glass jars (you can get giant mayonnaise jars from restaurants). They'll stay fresh for decades.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-49789731859095110902017-10-01T18:18:43.509-04:002017-10-01T18:18:43.509-04:00Hi, James. Thank you for all your advice.
Could y...Hi, James. Thank you for all your advice.<br /><br />Could you please tell us more about casein's shelf life, and how to properly store it?<br /><br /><br />I bought a few tubes about nine months ago, and although I've been using them frequently, lately I've been noticing that some of the colors I got are starting to dry out inside their tubes. When I try to dissolve them with water, they get a rubbery texture, instead of the creamy-like one they used to have.<br /><br /><br />I've been storing my tubes in the cardboard box where they came, on a flat surface, and in a cool and dry spot. Nevertheless, my house is located in a rather humid place. Could this be the source of my problem?<br /><br /><br />Richeson's FAQ section recommends to squeeze the tubes, in case they harden a bit. Could this work for me?<br /><br /><br />Thank you for reading!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341833927700858911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-22752812599463353032017-03-17T02:43:27.957-04:002017-03-17T02:43:27.957-04:00Spinnintires, I've used both and like both. In...Spinnintires, I've used both and like both. In any water-based matte paint, there's going to be some value shifting when they dry, so they're similar in that regard. And the shelf life has more to do with the way they're stored than anything. The main difference is the paint texture and the strength of the emulsion. Casein emulsion is relatively weak by comparison to "acrylic-gouache" (which is really acrylic). That weakness of the emulsion changes the way the paint feels as it comes off the brush, and changes the ease with which it cleans up. One's not better than another, I still use them both, but it's just a different feel.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-42296361662001522882017-03-17T02:30:17.764-04:002017-03-17T02:30:17.764-04:00What is the practical difference between casein an...What is the practical difference between casein and 'acrylic gouache' (e.g. Holbein Acryla Gouache). If what I've read is accurate, then the a.g. would have all the same characteristics/appearance/closed nature of casein, yet have less color shift, be more durable and flexible, and have a better shelf life. Am I missing some overlooked benefit of casein?Spinnintireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07814707463705057203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-30354780438314935912017-03-02T06:21:54.671-05:002017-03-02T06:21:54.671-05:00Thanks again for all your advices. Didn't get ...Thanks again for all your advices. Didn't get if you use varnish ou not on your work or even your casein sketchbooks. Then which one did you choose? Is it necessary in your opinion?Julien Weber-Acquavivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16529494033814893008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-1889623386147077302017-02-01T14:23:48.665-05:002017-02-01T14:23:48.665-05:00IAB, I use premixed paint. Haven't tried mixin...IAB, I use premixed paint. Haven't tried mixing my own. Glad they got back to you.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-26912625249351528882017-02-01T09:59:48.863-05:002017-02-01T09:59:48.863-05:00Thank you! They ARE reachable and were willing to...Thank you! They ARE reachable and were willing to talk to me. But were only able to send me the official sheet anything that might be considered toxic in their paints.<br />Do you mix your own paints, or do you use a pre mix?<br />Thanks again.I am blessedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952981695863925017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-55785975271584309602017-01-31T16:20:46.750-05:002017-01-31T16:20:46.750-05:00Hi, Blessed, I can't really advise you about h...Hi, Blessed, I can't really advise you about health / sensitivity issues. I would suggest looking at the Richeson / Shiva website for more info, and if you don't find it there, contact them. They're pretty reachable. http://www.richesonart.com/products/paints/richesoncasein/richcaseinfaq.htmlJames Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-64602413524863287662017-01-31T15:57:09.129-05:002017-01-31T15:57:09.129-05:00Do you happen to know what the ingredients are in ...Do you happen to know what the ingredients are in the Shiver casein paint?<br />My husband has been reacting to acrylics, and he's tried several, as well as a couple supposedly green, non voc brands. Also to oils, even the simple walnut oil paints. <br />So I'd like to find him some casein paints to try, but I'm having trouble finding out what's in them.<br />I know we could buy powdered paint that would supposedly just be casein and lime, or boric acid, and add pigments separately. But I'd rather find him something that's already pre mixed.<br />Just wondering if you happen to know what's in the Shiver paints, or can recommend another premixed paint - and what would be in them?<br /><br />Thank you so much. I am blessedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952981695863925017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-53266090708618098302016-07-24T13:40:06.399-04:002016-07-24T13:40:06.399-04:00Abolutely will try your suggestions...Many thanks!...Abolutely will try your suggestions...Many thanks!<br />Karenskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12812179276923702231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-58178702210317698182016-07-24T12:11:37.995-04:002016-07-24T12:11:37.995-04:00Karensky, what I would do is experiment with makin...Karensky, what I would do is experiment with making some paint blobs on a scrap of flexible canvas or board. First, make a blog out of paint from the tube. Then you could add casein emulsion to another sample, add gum arabic (the binder in gouache) to another,. <br /><br />Then you could try adding small amounts of various water soluble binders that have a stronger emulsion that seal to a closed surface, such as acrylic polymer matte medium or impasto medium or gel. Of course this would change your brush cleaning routine, but it would add flexibility and strength to the casein. Then see how easily each of those impasto blobs crumble or crack. James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-18723876810584148482016-07-24T10:53:41.927-04:002016-07-24T10:53:41.927-04:00Thank you for your info and reader's posts on ...Thank you for your info and reader's posts on casein; I have not used it for 60 years, but returned this week and am delighted! Brilliant color, fast-drying, water soluble, and INEXPENSIVE! Now that the prices of my favorite oil paints are going sky-high, I might just buy casein instead. I wish there were a way to make the casein paint film more flexible, so that paper and canvas grounds were usable. Any thoughts?Karenskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12812179276923702231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-66038715372301766002016-07-16T07:14:52.882-04:002016-07-16T07:14:52.882-04:00Hey, Hypnopoodles (great name, by the way)—Glad yo...Hey, Hypnopoodles (great name, by the way)—Glad you're enjoying everything, and I've got more on casein painting on the way. Haven't been to SF in a while but I'll be at the Plein Air convention in San Diego in 2017. I know, not close, but it is CA!James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-26765659929335771102016-07-16T04:24:47.330-04:002016-07-16T04:24:47.330-04:00Hi James!
Just wanted to express my appreciation ...Hi James!<br /><br />Just wanted to express my appreciation for this whole thing you do, with the blog and all your gumroad/youtube videos. I bought your Gouache in the wild video, and I've probably watched it 10 times. love it<br /><br />I really hope you do a casein video! I'm totally intrigued by the idea of using it for gouache underpainting. <br /><br />P.S. do you ever visit the SF bay area for workshops or anything? <br /><br />Best,<br />SpencerAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06646577659654657674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-84487296428397499052016-01-18T16:39:45.565-05:002016-01-18T16:39:45.565-05:00David, quick answers:
1. I'd give it a day or ...David, quick answers:<br />1. I'd give it a day or two next to a sunny window or near a fireplace, until it's bone dry.<br />2. I believe you can paint oil directly over casein; that's the usual way.<br />3. The paint layer is only as strong as the weakest layer, so I wouldn't build up too much impasto. If you want texture, use a texturing compound in acrylic, which has more emulsion strength.<br />4. Yes, casein is a traditional underpainting color. By the way, it's older than oils, going all the way back to the Egyptians -- and in fact to upper Paleolithic humans. I think I did a post about the world's oldest paint....it's casein.<br />5. No, I wouldn't mix oil and casein, nor would I work with casein over oil. Casein first, let it dry, then oil over is OK.<br /><br />More info at the Richeson site: http://www.richesonart.com/products/paints/richesoncasein/richcaseinfaq.htmlJames Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-57852534681241771792016-01-16T06:08:21.486-05:002016-01-16T06:08:21.486-05:00Hi James,
I am deep into indirect painting method...Hi James,<br /><br />I am deep into indirect painting methods, like the Old Masters, in oil. The issue is, I'm not interested in waiting so long for each layer to set before applying the next. I've found alkyd resins (Gamblin's line) to be of great use for drying speed. However, I am very curious about using casein to paint in the underlying colors on the gessoed surface first to help speed the process. After rendering and laying in a few thin layers of casein, I wanted to continue the painting with oil layers to refine the form, then scumble and glaze. <br /><br />Would you happen to know:<br /><br />1) How long I would have to wait for the casein to dry before laying down a dissimilar medium like oils?<br />2) Is there a preferred or needed medium to apply as an isolation or seal coat over casein before starting oils, if any? <br />3) Does the casein paint have a strong enough bond to the ground as an archival medium for this method, or would cracking or delamination eventually occur?<br />4) Is this method of painting recommended and was this a common practice at one time?<br />5) I've heard casein and oil can be mixed. Is this a good idea?<br /><br />Thank you in advance James, you're the best!<br /><br />DavidDavid Hoehnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09094853697917574707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-72301312576085818132015-09-10T16:13:16.377-04:002015-09-10T16:13:16.377-04:00Hi, Patrick,
A couple of things: You can push the ...Hi, Patrick,<br />A couple of things: You can push the values darker with black on the palette, of course, or by using casein varnish as a final gloss coat. But the matte surface is one of the charms of the medium, and I've actually stayed away from full black anyway, just to give color character to the darks. Finally, when you shoot your artwork, you can always use the Photoshop slider to get the full value range if you want.<br /><br />Yes, white will gray (and usually cool) the color in most any painting medium. So if you have high chroma versions of those hues you can boost the chroma at a given value.<br /><br />About the painting layers lifting up. Acrylic has a stronger emulsion strength -- casein has some strength, but not much. It's more like gouache. The thing I try to do is to use the wettest, most watery layers early on in the process, and get progressively drier as you go. Also, don't scrub with the brush. Just prepare a stroke, lay it down, and leave it.<br /><br />Hope that helps! James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-88405911717171353762015-09-10T14:22:41.601-04:002015-09-10T14:22:41.601-04:00Hi James,
I've been using casein for a few mo...Hi James,<br /><br />I've been using casein for a few months and it's a wonderful medium, my second favourite after oil, but there are a few things about it that bug me. Hoping you can help me out. <br /><br />Because of how casein dries to a matte surface, the value range isn't very wide compared to other media. My applications dry quite a bit lighter than when they're put down wet, and it tends to throw me when I'm comparing values. I've also noticed that adding white greys the colours tremendously without even giving a significant increase in value... and so it's forced me to work in a subtractive process, like watercolour, which I'm not too fond of. Lastly, the paint layers seem to lift pretty easily when I paint overtop, but I think it's because I'm adding too much water to the subsequent layers.<br /><br />I'm wondering if I might be doing something wrong, if you've had similar experiences, and if you have any workarounds to these issues.<br /><br />Thanks so much!<br /><br />- PatrickAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09424304293702102719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-40195858857325181492015-08-06T04:26:06.593-04:002015-08-06T04:26:06.593-04:00Andrew, your analysis of the two mediums is about ...Andrew, your analysis of the two mediums is about right. <br /><br />I'm using gouache for my super portable rig—just black and white gouache in my drawing kit. And I like using gouache when I want to combine it with watercolor pencils or watercolors. But I'm using casein a lot for more full-bodied painting, when I really want to pour on the paint in a juicier way. I think of gouache as more delicate, better for detail, more like a harpsichord, with casein more like a piano. Do I really have to choose? I love them both!James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-36227226082620128822015-08-06T00:24:10.702-04:002015-08-06T00:24:10.702-04:00James,
It seems that you have been doing Gouache m...James,<br />It seems that you have been doing Gouache more lately than Casein. I have painted mostly in oils up to this point, but have been thinking that either Gouache or Casein would make plein air painting a bit more enjoyable. <br /><br />It seems to me that the biggest differences between Casein and Gouache are that Gouache can be "rewetted" and used on the palette even after it dries, and Casein cannot, while Gouache is more expensive and has a broader range of manufacturers and colors to choose from than Casein.<br /><br />If you had to choose between Casein and Gouache and could not do both, which would you go with?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com