I am washing two pigments right now. This is #1 Red rock. I maybe should have used an alum solution you mentioned in the video. I started it on Saturday and waited until yesterday (Wednesday) to pour off the water. I decided the water was clear enough or wasn’t going to get much clearer. I think it will still come out fine. The third picture was to show the interesting way it settled in one jar. I think I could have poured off more water so I know it needs to settle a lot. You can see the #2 Yellow in the background. It is settling, you can see the layers. I’m not going to rush it but I’m wondering how clear the water should get. How do you make the alum solution?

This rock was different than the first rock. It was harder and crunchier in the mortar. I’m curious what it’ll come out to be on paper but it looks like a nice gold crushed and the water is really golden yellow. Almost like LSU gold. Lol. 💜💛

So, my daily activities are probably not normal. I'm curious what other people do who don't work, work at home or are retired, so share your list! Here's what is on my list for today (will probably stretch for the week): - feed horses/chickens, see how far towards a mile I can go - check on salamander eggs - strain the turkey tail tincture and set the water decoction on the marc going - clean the bathrooms, fold clothes, sweep mud room - work on my article for NANPS about Cunila oreganoides (American dittany) - work on accompanying drawings for the article - make blog post (I'll probably use this post here to make the blog post) - make oil paint from bone and soot pigments (I need them for my owl painting, and want to see side-by-side comparison of the two) - get my shed painting out and covered to bring with when we go to town tomorrow - I need to drop it off to be scanned - withdraw shed painting from one exhibition bc I forgot I had entered it into another 😶 - work on sign layout using new graphic I used ChatGPT to design for my broker - put together a video of clips to promote this skool class on YouTube and entice new members - start getting my supplies and materials organized for April live paint-making class, order anything missing

I think my binder is good. The paint is a little gritty but did not smudge. I’m waiting for the pan to be really dry before I try rewetting it. It’s a nice brownish red. I did the muller for about 45 minutes. It was like making a roux and it looked like a roux too! It was fun and I’m ready to make another one. I just finished watching the pigment washing videos and I have plenty from this rock to try it out.

Did any of you watch the eclipse this morning? I did, but my phone can't take good pics of the moon. It was interesting to watch, though.