Synthesizing Egyptian Blue

Our Egyptian blue pellets after firing. The final pigment turned our too green, and will be corrected in our next firing attempt by adjusting the sodium flux in our mixture. 

It goes by many names; blue frit, calcium copper silicate, cuprorivaite or the lovely tones of Egyptian blue. This colour is special! It's also very potent. As the name would suggest, it dates back to the third millennium BC, where it has coloured the walls of the Egyptians, and has preserved quite as well as their mummies.

Another thing about this paint is you'll find it quite difficult to come by, and perhaps a little too extravagant for any reasonable budget. This is because of the elaborate process required for its synthesis. Its ingredients, on the other hand, are much more accessible. And with a little bit of daring, a (somewhat eccentric) measure of curiosity, and a long standing inclination to the chemical spectrum of art, I have nearly managed to synthesise this colour that will add a wonderful addition to our palette. Another try should be the ticket to the golden recipe..

Needless to say, on our journey to making things last in an age of fast turnover and disposability, a colour that stays bright for thousands of years is definitely very exciting! Once we have the hang of the blue's recipe, only one colour (technically not a colour) remains: white. Once we've made that we can start producing quality paintings with only the most stable & permanent pigments that will be exclusively unique and distinctive to our work.

Watch this space.