Hi, I recently purchased some azurite pigment and I want to mull it into paint, I have never done this, It is my first time and I am wondering what is the right way to do it? should I wet the pigment first in water, or should I just add oil to the dry pigment. Also what oil is recomended with azurite
There are a few earlier posts on here that you should read
https://www.artcons.udel.edu/mitra/forums/question?QID=294
Azurite is a coarse pigment so the precautions about very fine particle size are not relevant. The copper component is toxic so observe all of the other precautions.
https://www.artcons.udel.edu/mitra/forums/question?QID=61
Azurite is an extremely difficult pigment to use.
It should be made up fresh in water if being used in aqueous techniques, as it will chemically change to a greener color if kept in water for extended periods.
It is also a pigment that loses its beautiful blue color the finer it is ground (industrially ground, not mulled by the artist, mulling it into paint does not change the particle size) therefore it is generally so coarse as to be difficult to use.
Also, the delicate blue of azurite is easily ruined by the yellowing of an oil binder. Finally, it is a copper carbonate, which can react with the fatty acids in drying oils to and convert to a more green metal salt.
Soo, if used in oil I would suggest using a minimum of walnut oil. Yes, the walnut oil may EVENTUALLY yellow as much as linseed oil would, but this would be only over an extended period of time. Resist adding more oil to make the recalcitrant paint move more freely. If you do so you will end up with an unsightly greenish paint in a relatively short period of time.
Mull up the paint to a barely workable paste and then dilute with a very small amount of solvent. You may find that the methods used by the early Flemish works for you. Apply it in a few layers, the lowest with large amount of white, the middle with less white, and the final with only the amount of white required to achieve the value and hue that you are hoping for.
I hope that this was of some help.
