What an amazing and detailed tour, thank you! It definitely makes me want to visit, too. I do have a question. You mention ‘skin glue’. Dare I ask, what is skin glue? Or, I guess, glue from the skin of what animal?
It's basically collagen extracted from skin, and at room temperature it's kept in the form of gummy granules that need to be dissolved in warm water (kept warm while you're working). They've been made from a variety of animals (including fish), usually whatever animal a culture relies on for food or hide ends up being the source. The one available in art stores today is usually rabbit skin glue.
Thank you for your answer and expert knowledge. Your research and writing is fascinating, and I am grateful that you give your time and expertise so generously.
How incredible! Thank you for the detailed close ups - I can see things I’ve only read about - the murex snail! Swoon! (They look bigger in real life, everyone writes about how tiny they are). I wonder if that the real murex or just an example the way the cochineal is. I digress. I trolled through your photos with utter glee, thank you.
Oh they're not tiny at all. Smallish, but not tiny – there are different species of murex and some are very delicate and small, but the species used for the dye are chunky. These are the largest I've seen but they look legit (I'm from near Saida/Sidon, one of the two cities famed for this dye, partly built on the hill of murex shells left behind, so I grew up with this constantly replayed and even co-authored a children's book on purple dye!)
Studio and studio tour envy!
Big time studio envy!
I can relate. Reminds me of how I, a writer and bibliophile, feel about my personal library.
So interesting and beautiful. Thanks for such a detailed tour. Felt like I was there.
My pleasure!
Thank you for this!!!
No problem!
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure!
What an amazing and detailed tour, thank you! It definitely makes me want to visit, too. I do have a question. You mention ‘skin glue’. Dare I ask, what is skin glue? Or, I guess, glue from the skin of what animal?
It's basically collagen extracted from skin, and at room temperature it's kept in the form of gummy granules that need to be dissolved in warm water (kept warm while you're working). They've been made from a variety of animals (including fish), usually whatever animal a culture relies on for food or hide ends up being the source. The one available in art stores today is usually rabbit skin glue.
Thank you for your answer and expert knowledge. Your research and writing is fascinating, and I am grateful that you give your time and expertise so generously.
How incredible! Thank you for the detailed close ups - I can see things I’ve only read about - the murex snail! Swoon! (They look bigger in real life, everyone writes about how tiny they are). I wonder if that the real murex or just an example the way the cochineal is. I digress. I trolled through your photos with utter glee, thank you.
Oh they're not tiny at all. Smallish, but not tiny – there are different species of murex and some are very delicate and small, but the species used for the dye are chunky. These are the largest I've seen but they look legit (I'm from near Saida/Sidon, one of the two cities famed for this dye, partly built on the hill of murex shells left behind, so I grew up with this constantly replayed and even co-authored a children's book on purple dye!)
What in incredible, rich history.