Michael Skalka2 days ago3 minThe Pastel StandardSummary: So many activities with so little time. However, I am pleased to announce that the article I wrote for the Pastel Journal –...
Michael SkalkaApr 307 minGet the Lead Out?Summary: What is the impact of continued use of lead white oil paint on the health of artists? What does health/safety literature tell us...
Michael SkalkaApr 234 minMind the GapSummary: The art materials industry provides a wealth of color choices, but sometimes a gap is found in if a 12-step color wheel is used...
Michael SkalkaMar 145 minChrome ColorsSummary: Chrome colors were derived from the discovery of chromium by the French scientist, Louis Nicolas Vauquelin in 1797. Their...
Michael SkalkaMar 25 min...as Clear and Transparent as a Piece of Coal... Part 2Summary: John Steuart Curry and Reginald Marsh corresponded with Jacques Maroger in the 1940s to obtain the long lost secret of Old...
Michael SkalkaFeb 195 min"... as Clear and Transparent as a Piece of Coal" Part 1Summary: When it comes to painting mediums used by artists, the debate about their merits or problems becomes a source of heated...
Michael SkalkaJan 235 minLet's Raise a Glass to Naphthol RedSummary: An unusual relationship exists between the brewing industry and the invention of a host of synthetic organic pigments in the azo...
Michael SkalkaDec 10, 20214 minThe Unvarnished TruthThe subject of selecting varnish is important because the decision can result in a painting being protected and long-lasting verses a...
Michael SkalkaOct 7, 20213 minShould Odorless Mineral Spirits Be Scented?I have been grappling with this question for many years. This issue has a number of technical components that make it hard to explain...
Michael SkalkaSep 30, 20214 minThrough Thick or Thin?I am focusing on paint viscosity while working on some big pictures that required a large quantity of oil paint. This got me thinking...
Michael SkalkaSep 16, 20213 minPermanent Green LightLet’s explore another of what art material manufacturers sometimes refer to as “convenience colors.” This means a color that can be mixed...
Michael SkalkaMay 11, 20214 minGo Big Blue!Ecole Polytechnique vs. The University of Tubingen. Scholastic rivalries have interesting histories. Each year both school athletic teems...
Michael SkalkaApr 12, 20213 minA Glitch in the Color Matrix“How can you be in two places at once, when you’re not anywhere at all.” I encountered this phrase in high school when my classmates...
Michael SkalkaMar 29, 20213 minA Matter of TrustWe are faced with issues of trust in all areas of our lives. Art materials are no different. We trust that when it says Organic Lettuce,...
Michael SkalkaNov 17, 20203 minBodies in the Cellar or The Old and Forgotten:Only a handful of theater enthusiasts would know the name Joseph Kesselring. However, many would recognize one of his most famous plays,...