Cochineal Experiments





Cochineal experiments 
By Symonne de la Croix
1.2.20


Tried to make a Carmine Lake with Cochineal without success. 
I got my ingredients together :

https://sunsikell.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/how-to-make-a-lake-pigment/


Ground the Cochineal to a powder:


Prepared Alum and cream of tartar by addingto boiled water. Then adding the crushed Cochoneal which I then simmered for an hour.



The next step was to mix up the sodium carbonate with hot demineralised water then add to alum/Cochineal mix.
This was supposed to start frothing immediately but nothing happened. Not even a bubble.
It did change to a purple colour. 
From discussions on fb my mix was perhaps too acidic, or someone suggested maybe not enough alum.  I wonder about that as the colour became quite purple which is usually a sign of a lot of alum.
Disappointed but going to try again. 

More Experimenting....

With the unsuccessful dye I decided to experiment with still trying to get a pigment by the addition of chalk (calcium carbonate). Then I tried calcium sulphate which made the colour much more purple.
Also trying Plaster of Paris.
The process is pouring mixture onto chalk (or other substrate) that is in a coffee filter attached with an elastic band to a jar so it can sieve through.
I then used the strained water with more mixture and substrate in a jar which I intend to shake daily to see if it makes a difference. 
The strained chalk matter is then placed to dry (not in direct sunlight as cochineal is a  fugitive colour, meaning it will fade).
 When completely dry I will grind it and add a binder (probably gum arabic) which hopefully, will produce a good painting pigment.  Fingers crossed  (and toes and eyes 😊)

Changing it up....

I changed the Cochineal mix in a couple of ways to see if it made a difference. ie more alum, heating,less alum, more sodium carbonate...  I still didn't get any frothing but I have noticed some colour changes.
I will see what happens when mixtures dry.



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