Casein Questions

 

The editor of the FCA magazine, asked me to take a stab at answering this question from the FCA website’s discussion forum. I thought it would be of interest for some other artists considering alternative water –media paints. 

Does anyone know if Casein paints are considered archival, how does its' light-fastness compare with watercolour?  Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
 
Casein is a milk protein that was commonly used by painters of the past to make paints and its use even dates back to ancient Egyptian times.  Casein can be diluted with water and has very good adhesive properties, and has often been used as a glue.  I know of at least one company that makes it in tubes. 

The problem with casien paint is that it is water-resistant when dry but not really water-proof.  Also, it becomes quite brittle with age and will crack easily if it is applied too thick or on a flexible support like paper or canvas. 

Light-fastness is a property of the pigment, not the type of paint.  The same pigments are used to make all the different types of paints.  So, a good quality cadmium yellow pigment will have comparable light-fastness in watercolors, casein paints, oils, or acrylics. 

casein paints are very similar to egg tempera paints in the way that they handle and look when dry.  Egg tempera has been the preferred choice of most artists over casein for hundreds of years, you might want to consider looking up a little book called "the practice of tempera painting" by Daniel Thompson.  Hope that helps to answer you question.  

Hi David,

 

Thanks for the information about Caseins.  Question: You had mentioned that a good cadmium yellow, for instance, had the same light-fastness in whichever medium.  However, I was surfing around in the Alberta Foundation for the Arts website and found an article on conservation http://wwwaffta.ab.ca/ccorner/visualarts/consmatters.htm and it mentions that watercolours are highly light-sensitive because the pigment particles are spread out in a thin gum binder, exposing more surface are to light. So would caseins be similar?  How long can we expect good quality watercolour paintings on cotton paper under conservation glass to last?  (I realize this is almost impossible to answer, but I thought I'd throw it out there.)

 

This issue is starting to bother me.  I have painted professionally for 12 years with watercolour and have had great reception, except when it comes to some galleries, who won't consider carrying watercolours because people don't want glass.  Someone suggested I switch to acrylic, but after refining one's skill at a media such as watercolour, a radical change seems alarming. I was hoping Caseins may be an answer - although they have to be varnished for protection.  Are there any waterbased archival quality varnishes on the market?  I would appreciate any more information you have.

 

Thank you!  Jennifer

 

Hi Jennifer,

 

Watercolor paintings  are generally not as durable oil or acrylic paintings for obvious reasons but when properly framed under glass with acid free mats a watercolor in considered to be a "permanent" media from a museums viewpoint.  That is, it is expected to last at least 100 years in its original condition in museum conditions (this is a generally accepted definition of 'permanence').  It is true that because the paint is applied in thin layers the colors are not as lightfast but that is also true of any medium when the paint is applied thinly (low concentration of pigment). 

 

I agree that to switch for those reasons seems 'alarming.' 

 

My advice is to ignore all the issues about permanence and what the galleries are saying about people not wanting glass.  I have been told by several galleries that watercolors are generally not in vogue right now with most buyers but good art work is good artwork and it will find its place in people’s hearts and collections no matter what the medium. 

 

Most people who have considered casein paints in the last 30 years as a viable medium have gone to acrylics instead, they are more permanent and more versatile.  Egg tempera, as I mentioned, is another option that I think you would do very well with.  There are no water-based varnishes.  Any painting on canvas or board that is not framed behind glass needs to be varnished for protection.  That includes tempera paintings like casein and egg tempera.  The same type of varnish is used for all of them.  The best ones are the relatively new acrylic solution varnishes that can be thinned and removed with mineral spirits.  Golden MSA and Liquitex Soluvar are excellent. 

 

 good luck Jennifer.  david