Rembrandt's sparkle effect

Rochelle Brown · 05-01-2002, 02:44 PM

There is a book written by Ernest Van Wetering called "Rembrandt, The Painter at Work" by Amsterdam University Press. It says among many things that the sparkle effect that is seen in some of Rembrandt's paintings is partially due to the use of quartz powder and glass powder which was actually found in the layers of paint. Although, finding quartz powder for sale anywhere is probably as challenging as finding it in a Rembrandt.

Marta Prime · 05-01-2002, 05:53 PM

If you added things like quartz powder, ground glass or any type of glittery material to your painting, wouldn't it then be a mixed media painting instead of an oil painting? At what point do we consider something a painting or just arts and crafts? Maybe if no one could tell what secret ingredient was used? Would contemporary peers consider that cheating? If such a paint product was possible, wouldn't Gamblin or some other paint wizard have done it? Or maybe we should use diamond dust! What an expensive painting that would be! I'd better watch out or Steven will patent it!

Rochelle Brown · 05-02-2002, 04:08 AM

I'd be willing to try it if I could find the stuff. It is not an easy thing for me to grind up quartz. Looking at the Pearl catalogue in the section for mediums there is a pebeo crystal mortar that is made for acrylics. It is described as: acrylic, quartz and glass based thick mortar. Obtains granular and transparant effects. Since according, at least, to the above mentioned book there is scientific evidence of this practice by the big "R" himself, I'm curious; although it seems that for the most part this information is not widely known.

Rochelle Brown · 05-02-2002, 04:21 AM

Also, I'm willing to try diamond dust, as well as 14 karat gold powder, possibly gold leaf. Hopefully nothing that will attract flies or melt on a warm day.

Marta Prime · 05-02-2002, 03:25 PM

Rochelle,
I once did a painting for a friend of a lady walking out of the ocean with a long flowing scarf-like dress. I wanted it to shimmer so I went shopping....found some real fine glittery stuff in a jar....almost like dust...they sell it at most art or craft stores. I added some to a clear painting medium and painted it over the dress. Wow, it worked great! Now, I probably wouldn't do that on a regular basis unless I was painting fairy's or something, but it sure was fun!

Rochelle Brown · 05-02-2002, 04:48 PM

Hi Marta,
I don't think it is bad or, more formally speaking, unethical to enhance an oil painting with modern additives to the paint unless you are claiming to use only what the "Old Masters" used and show historical and scientific evidence of the materials used. SOG artists are not bound to these standards although they are driven by their creativity to produce the most beautiful and high quality piece of art possible. They also have an obligation to please their clients.
Having stared in awe at Rembrandt's paintings and wondered how was it possible for him to create that look, it was interesting to make the quartz discovery.
When working on a commission, I discuss the materials I use with my client and provide a list of the paints, mediums, varnish and everything else. They find this information very interesting and important for future restoration and care. It is nice to say that only "time tested" materials were used.
By the way, do you remember the name of the "real fine glittery stuff in a jar"?

Michael Fournier · 05-02-2002, 07:38 PM

Quote:

If you added things like quartz powder, ground glass or any type of glittery material to your painting, wouldn't it then be a mixed media painting instead of an oil painting? At what point do we consider something a painting or just arts and crafts?

Well Marta why do you say this? After all what is oil paint? Oil ether linseed or almond oil added to a pigment.

What are these pigments? Well some are ground oxides of metals like titanium, lead and chromium. Or cadmium is a chemical element which is found in zinc, copper, and lead (reason cadmium colors often contain a warning of lead content).

Some are just earth iron-rich for Ochre and Sienna or iron and manganese for Umber
Others like alizarin come from crystalline compounds of coal tar, or it

Marta Prime · 05-02-2002, 08:25 PM

Michael,
I guess I was really asking opinions more than making a statement about additives and what constitutes "mixed media." I have noticed at several local art fairs and judgings that they are very particular about what you are using so they can classify you correctly. It seems that if you use anything but oil they want you to be "mixed media." Of course I wouldn't be telling them about any ingredients or mediums that I use, but the sparkly stuff is clearly not oil paint to them. I once had a painting that had this stuff on it moved from the "oil painting" section to the "craft" section of a show, so I don't use it anymore. Of course, that is local art stuff, a far cry from the caliber of artists in here. I guess I just thought that if the local yahoo's didn't consider it an oil painting, the professional's in here might really think it was tacky! The points you bring up are very relevant. You never know until you ask.

Rochelle,
I found the glittery stuff in the glitter section of our local Art and Craft store. I don't remember the brand name.

Jim Riley · 05-02-2002, 10:52 PM

Merck manufactured pearlescent pastels sold by Sennelier and Guache watercolors sold by Schmincke. I was provided samples of these a number of years ago and found them attractive but not otherwise useful to the kind of work that I like to produce. They might be good for special effects. I used them for vinyl flooring patterns and they are now every where including your tooth paste.

Most of the metallic and pearlescent pigments in the marketplace today are made from a form of the mineral mica or produced from an extrusion process. They were first made prominent by automobile manufacturers to achieve metallic effects without using unstable and environmentaly unsafe metals. They also provide irredescent colors that will make colors look different as the light and direction you abserve them changes.

I could not find names of others that I know provide these "pigments" in dry form but do recall that Engelhard Corp is among those and you can get info from Sunny Maffeo, 732-205-7365.

Michael Fournier · 05-03-2002, 09:50 AM

Jim,

Your post made me think (or maybe it is that it is morning and my head is clearer) pearlescent paint is a great idea for this. And used very sparingly cold offer some very attractive uses.

Like painting highlights on silver, a mother of pearl comb in or a string of pearls. But, I would only use it for highlight effects since it would look strange and garish if you tried to use to much Also since when you paint it is a representation of a 3D object in 2D you would get highlights and reflection in areas you do not want them if you say tried to paint pearls completely using pearlescent paint.

I myself would first learn to get as close to producing these effects using only color first before I tried any thing that might be regarded as mimicry.