I am looking for an archival/durable alternative to acrylic inks for use as underpainting in oil. I am considering using india inks (e.g. Dr Ph Martin Bombay inks) on a primed ground (e.g. 100% rag paper or board) with a layer of oil paint on top but have found very little information so far on whether this is archival/performs well long-term or how best to apply.
I have sought to break down my query a bit:
What are suitable grounds and are these primed for shellac pigment inks? Seems like a rigid surface, e.g. primed board or paper better than canvas?
Is shellac ink over acrylic gesso primed acid-free 100% cotton paper archival and not cause deterioration, change in appearance or loss of adhesion of shellac to the ground?
Is oil paint over shellac ink on acrylic gesso primed acid-free 100% cotton paper archival and not cause deterioration or loss of adhesion , change in appearance of oil and/or shellac?
Should I apply a varnish over the india ink on paper before applying oil, and if so what kind?
What is approx. composition of shellac-based pigment inks, e.g. % shellac, water, pigment, other?
Is there any literature and/or testing to hand on compatibility of shellac pigment inks with acrylic gesso and oil paint? Or examples of artists who have used the inks in this way?
Some years ago I asked Winsor and newton whether Their indian ink was ok on acrylic primed canvas and under oil paint. They said that it was as long as the ink areas were merely narrow lines and not large zones of fill in or where the ink lines were approahing 50% surface coverage or more. As it turned out for myself, I found after a few paintings that the indian ink wasn’t that much easier and perhaps I wanted grey or umber lines instead anyway.
Marc.