Caseïn paint

[Caius Titius Verus]

hello there,

yet another question from me ;-) )

I'm working on a "perfectly" authentic reproduction of a scutum. This afternoon I wanted to make my 'milkpaint' but it doesn't seem to work out! A litte help would be greatly appreciated ;-) )

I have this caseïne powder, and pigments in powder. Now in what parts should I mix them with water? Anyone have some experience at doing this?

Best regards,

Tom

[richsc]

If this is Old Fashioned Milk Paint company the mixture is 50/50 powder and water. You do need to let it stand for a few minutes, and it tends to thicken a bit. Experience is what you need in this one, but that is the basic proportion. Mix the powder into the water and stir 3 minutes or so.
After that, add in the pigments; try with a spoon full and mix to see how it looks; you may need more water.

[Caius Titius Verus]

Well this is basically how I did it (even with the spoons). But the paint got all "grainy" . There were lots of small hard "grains" in it, that didn't go away when I stirred it longer. So I concluded I had the proportions wrong...

I then tried to apply some of the paint and it wasn't a pretty sight ;-) )

Do you perhaps have a solution for this problem?

Best regards,
Tom

[richsc]

Those were the Old Fashioned Milk Paint company instructions (we use their base paint), however, below is Sinopia's more involved casein instructions.

Sinopia on Casein paint recipes

We get lumps in the casein, and usually smash it with the spoon to work out the lumps. Not always easy to do. Maybe a warmer water would help, and sifting the ingredients might help get lumps out.

[Carlton Bach]

If all else fails, run the mixture therough a nylon stocking. That is how you can get rid of the lumps.

Alternatively, if you want to be more histporical, get some cottage cheese, stir in a teaspoon or ttwo of borax or quicklime per cup, and mash it, then pass it through a sieve. That gives you casein paint base without modern additives.

[Caius Titius Verus]

Hmm yes perhaps with some warmer water...

Because it isn't that I really get lumps, it just looks as if the grains of pigment and caseïn don't dissolve like they should do.

Thank you all for the hints!

Best regards,
Tom