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Hello,
I have a background in painting & jewellery making and am really attracted to the idea of painting enamel and have been looking into some of the materials people use for this but have become a bit confused! I'd be really grateful if anyone is able to clear up a couple of questions I have! Thompson enamels sell ceramic pigments which they have said are to be used with 'painting flux' for enamel painting & my questions are:
1. What is the difference between ceramic pigments and normal pigments (i.e. those used for grinding to make oil paint, watercolours etc.)? i.e. what are the ingredients in ceramic pigments (I've contacted Thompson's but they haven't replied)
2. What is 'painting flux'? Is there something I could use instead? I ask this largely because I am UK based and can't seem to find it here.
Many thanks in advance for any help!
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
According to the Thompson Workbook "Ceramic Pigments" are ceramic coloring compounds which can be used in a variety of ways. They are often used for shading and detail work. They can be dispersed in a painting application by mixing with water based mediums such as Klyr-Fire and water or an appropriate oil medium such as "lavender or close oil". These pigments are very dense and should be used sparingly. A heavy application can result in bubbles or pitting in the overlying enamel. Ceramic pigments do not gloss without being covered by an enamel or mixed with an enamel. Ceramic pigments can be used as a painting enamel if mixed with finely ground enamel such as 913E mixing white or PF-1 painting flux (specific mixing directions are included in the Painting Enamel Kit).
The ceramic pigments can be used on enamel for metal, window glass and stained glass fusing. They can also me mixed with BC-1070 or 533 liquid white for copper to create many shades of color. Applications should be dry before firing, and can be fired in a range from 1300-1600 degrees F depending on the specific application.
Painting flux is a clear ground enamel that is mixed with the ceramic pigments to give a gloss when fired. For most Ceramic Pigments the proportion to Mixing White or Painting Flux should be 20% pigment to 80% enamel. For the Cadmium-Selenium pigments OC-70, OC-71 and OC-85, use only the Painting Flux in the proportion of 5% pigment to 95% Painting Flux.
There are two types of pigments - natural occurring and synthetic - Natural occurring is used in Thompsons products - I don't know which type you use in Oil Painting.
There are 2 enamel companies in the UK - Milton Bridge - https://www.milton-bridge.co.uk/
and WGBall - https://www.wgball.co.uk/
I hope this has helped - feel free to ask more - Good Luck, Trish
I also want to add to Trish's excellent response.
Painting flux in general is mesh 325 mesh. I was told that Thompson PF-1 is 2030 (their medium fusing flux). If you watch various videos by Merry Lee, she and her students tend to use Hirowasa S-1 (see https://www.enamelartsupply.com/tr-flux-hirosawa/s-1-flux-for-silver-e6265)
Thank you Lam,
Merry Lee Rae is the ultimate Guru!!