Milk paint

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Stools painted with milk paint Petal5 stacking stools 1.jpg
Stools painted with milk paint

Milk paint is a nontoxic, milk-based paint bound with casein. It can be made from milk and lime, generally with pigments added for color. [1] [2] [3] In other recipes, borax is mixed with milk's casein protein in order to activate the casein and as a preservative. [4] [5] The paint adheres best to porous substrates such as wood, its common traditional use, but will adhere also and with greater sheen to non-porous ones, especially if mixed with appropriate bonding agents. [6] [7] [8] It has been in use for thousands of years. Traditionally, and usually still, made wholly of natural ingredients, it is extremely durable, often lasting for centuries if protected from the elements.

Contents

History, production, and uses

The ancient history of milk in paint is attested by a primitive combination of wild bovid milk and ochre used on a stone tool found in a South African cave and dated to 49,000 years ago, tens of thousands of years before the Neolithic domestication of cattle. [9] Goats’ milk provided the binder for lacquer paint used on the Ancient Egyptian tomb of King Tutankhamun. [10]

Before the invention of acrylics, most house paint binders not made from oil instead used casein. Abundant historical production documents outline the manufacture of milk paint on an industrial scale. [11] However, because oil-based and acrylic-based paint resins have come to be made in vast quantities with common oils, such as linseed, and petrochemicals, their price can be much lower than that of milk paint, which commercially is now made only on a small scale.

Borax-casein milk paint combines the advantages of an all-natural paint with the convenience of a ready-made paint, as it keeps for six months or more if sealed very tightly to retain the moisture, although in time the casein binder will break down. Lime-casein milk paint does not come pre-mixed but is sold as a powder; [12] once water is added, the lime activates the casein and yields a durable paint that is caustic till it dries but safe and odorless thereafter. Once lime-casein milk paint has been mixed, it must be used within a day, or a few days if refrigerated. [13]

Today, milk paint is used not just on antique furniture and accurate replicas of it but on pieces of modern style. [14] The resulting finish has depth of color and a mottled appearance that may be used to give furnishings and rooms a rustic, shabby chic character. [15] [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acrylic paint</span> Water resistant paint type meant for canvases

Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion and plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, or metal soaps. Most acrylic paints are water-based, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted with water, or modified with acrylic gels, mediums, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor, a gouache, or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media and are meant for canvases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milk</span> White liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals

Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modulating components in milk contribute to milk immunity. Early-lactation milk, which is called colostrum, contains antibodies that strengthen the immune system and thus reduce the risk of many diseases. Milk contains many nutrients, including protein and lactose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oil painting</span> Process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil

Oil painting is a painting method involving the procedure of painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil as the binder. It has been the most common technique for artistic painting on canvas, wood panel or copper for several centuries, spreading from Europe to the rest of the world. The advantages of oil for painting images include "greater flexibility, richer and denser colour, the use of layers, and a wider range from light to dark". But the process is slower, especially when one layer of paint needs to be allowed to dry before another is applied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paint</span> Pigment applied over a surface that dries as a solid film

Paint is a liquid pigment that, after applied to a solid material and allowed to dry, adds a film-like layer, in most cases to create an image, known as a painting. Paint can be made in many colors and types. Most paints are either oil-based or water-based, and each has distinct characteristics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pastel</span> Powdered-pigment-based art medium

A pastel is an art medium that consist of powdered pigment and a binder. It can exist in a variety of forms, including a stick, a square, a pebble, or a pan of color, though other forms are possible. The pigments used in pastels are similar to those used to produce some other colored visual arts media, such as oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation. The color effect of pastels is closer to the natural dry pigments than that of any other process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tempera</span> Fast-drying painting medium

Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material such as egg yolk. Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings are very long-lasting, and examples from the first century AD still exist. Egg tempera was a primary method of painting until after 1500 when it was superseded by oil painting. A paint consisting of pigment and binder commonly used in the United States as poster paint is also often referred to as "tempera paint", although the binders in this paint are different from traditional tempera paint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gouache</span> Type of paint

Gouache, body color, or opaque watercolor is a water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent, and sometimes additional inert material. Gouache is designed to be opaque. Gouache has a long history, having been used for at least twelve centuries. It is used most consistently by commercial artists for posters, illustrations, comics, and other design work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casein</span> Family of proteins found in milk

Casein is a family of related phosphoproteins that are commonly found in mammalian milk, comprising about 80% of the proteins in cow's milk and between 20% and 60% of the proteins in human milk. Sheep and cow milk have a higher casein content than other types of milk with human milk having a particularly low casein content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varnish</span> Transparent hard protective finish or film

Varnish is a clear transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not to be confused with wood stain. It usually has a yellowish shade due to the manufacturing process and materials used, but it may also be pigmented as desired. It is sold commercially in various shades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scenic painting (theatre)</span>

Theatrical scenic painting includes wide-ranging disciplines, encompassing virtually the entire scope of painting and craft techniques. An experienced scenic painter will have skills in landscape painting, figurative painting, trompe-l'œil, and faux finishing, and be versatile in different media such as acrylic, oil, and tempera paint. The painter might also be accomplished in three-dimensional skills such as sculpting, plasterering and gilding. To select the optimal materials, scenic painters must also have knowledge of paint composition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaster</span> Broad range of building and sculpture materials

Plaster is a building material used for the protective or decorative coating of walls and ceilings and for moulding and casting decorative elements. In English, "plaster" usually means a material used for the interiors of buildings, while "render" commonly refers to external applications. The term stucco refers to plasterwork that is worked in some way to produce relief decoration, rather than flat surfaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stucco</span> Construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water

Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture. Stucco can be applied on construction materials such as metal, expanded metal lath, concrete, cinder block, or clay brick and adobe for decorative and structural purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casein paint</span>

Casein paint, derived from milk casein, is a fast-drying, water-soluble medium used by artists.

A binder or binding agent is any material or substance that holds or draws other materials together to form a cohesive whole mechanically, chemically, by adhesion or cohesion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresco-secco</span>

Fresco-secco is a wall painting technique where pigments mixed with an organic binder and/or lime are applied onto dry plaster. The paints used can e.g. be casein paint, tempera, oil paint, silicate mineral paint. If the pigments are mixed with lime water or lime milk and applied to a dry plaster the technique is called lime secco painting. The secco technique contrasts with the fresco technique, where the painting is executed on a layer of wet plaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distemper (paint)</span> Form of decorative paint

Distemper is a decorative paint and a historical medium for painting pictures, and contrasted with tempera. The binder may be glues of vegetable or animal origin. Soft distemper is not abrasion resistant and may include binders such as chalk, ground pigments, and animal glue. Hard distemper is stronger and wear-resistant and can include casein or linseed oil as binders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wash (visual arts)</span> A background in an artwork created by applying dilute colour

A wash is a term for a visual arts technique resulting in a semi-transparent layer of colour. A wash of diluted ink or watercolor paint applied in combination with drawing is called pen and wash, wash drawing, or ink and wash. Normally only one or two colours of wash are used; if more colours are used the result is likely to be classified as a full watercolor painting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painting</span> Practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface

Painting is a visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface. The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and airbrushes, can be used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservation and restoration of paintings</span> Preservation of heritage collections

The conservation and restoration of paintings is carried out by professional painting conservators. Paintings cover a wide range of various mediums, materials, and their supports. Painting types include fine art to decorative and functional objects spanning from acrylics, frescoes, and oil paint on various surfaces, egg tempera on panels and canvas, lacquer painting, water color and more. Knowing the materials of any given painting and its support allows for the proper restoration and conservation practices. All components of a painting will react to its environment differently, and impact the artwork as a whole. These material components along with collections care will determine the longevity of a painting. The first steps to conservation and restoration is preventive conservation followed by active restoration with the artist's intent in mind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalk paint</span> Water-based paint made with chalk

Chalk paint is a water-based, decorative paint invented by Annie Sloan which may be applied over almost any surface. It requires very little preparation and needs a topcoat to avoid flaking. Chalk paints are also used by utility companies to mark road surfaces.

References

  1. Beecher, Henry Ward (1859). Plain and pleasant talk about fruits, flowers and farming. Harvard University: Derby & Jackson. p.  187. Milk paint.
  2. Transvaal (Colony). Dept. of Agriculture, Transvaal (South Africa). Dept. of Agriculture (1906). The Transvaal agricultural journal, Volume 4. University of California: Transvaal (Colony). Dept. of Agriculture, Transvaal (South Africa). Dept. of Agriculture. p. 876.
  3. Baird, Henry Carey (1867). The painter, gilder, and varnisher's companion: containing rules and regulations in every thing relating to the arts of painting, gilding, varnishing and glass-staining. Numerous useful and valuable receipts ... (10th ed.). Philadelphia/University of Wisconsin - Madison: Henry Carey Baird. p. 97.
  4. PS42 (Feb 1942). Magic of chemurgy duplicated in the home laboratory. Popular Science. p. 199.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. Wailes, Raymond B. (March 1940). How is it Made. Popular Science. p. 209.
  6. Melkin, Nina. "All About Milk Paint". This Old House. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  7. Erickson, Alexa (20 August 2023). "What is Milk Paint and Should You Be Using It?". family handyman. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  8. Dickson, Chiana (15 February 2024). "What is milk paint? And how to use it in your home". Homes & Gardens. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. "Paleolithic Milk-Based Paint Discovered". Archeology. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  10. Evelyth, Rose (31 January 2014). "Making Paint Out of Goat's Milk Is an Ancient Idea". Homes & Gardens. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  11. Robert., Scherer (2010). Casein : its preparation and technical utilisation. Nabu Press. ISBN   9781178313543. OCLC   944390964.
  12. Staff. "A BRIEF HISTORY OF MILK PAINT" (web). The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co., Inc. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  13. Brown; Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk; Del Brown (2006). Furniture You Can Build: Projects That Hone Your Skills . Taunton Press. p.  52. ISBN   1-56158-796-6. Milk paint spoil.
  14. Terri McGraw Additional Tips: Milk Paint [ permanent dead link ] Prime Painting Tips Tuesday, September 29, 2009 Central Florida News 13
  15. Erickson, Alexa (20 August 2023). "What is Milk Paint and Should You Be Using It?". family handyman. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  16. Dickson, Chiana (15 February 2024). "What is milk paint? And how to use it in your home". Homes & Gardens. Retrieved 5 March 2024.