Historic Paint Mixing
Dragon’s Blood, Ox Gall, Rabbit Skin Glue – these are just a few of the more exotic sounding ingredients to be found lurking in the Hoxton studio of Pedro Da Costa Felgueiras. Even his name possesses a certain magical allure befitting those of more esoteric practices.
\nIn fact, Pedro has dedicated his life’s work to reviving the lost art of traditional paint making; over 20 years of scouring specialist house-keeping manuals retrieved from markets and old bookshops – some of which date back to the 15th Century – have engendered an encyclopaedic knowledge of paint ingredients & their application throughout the ages, from rocks ground up by prehistoric cave men used to adorn their caves as primitive examples of fresco painting, through to modern day offerings which he abhors for their synthetic, plastic qualities “It’s like wrapping a beautifully made thing in clingfilm.”
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\n Pedro’s studio. Photo by Simon Brown.
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In Pedro’s unlit studio, pigments in bottles punctuate the dim light like vibrant exclamations of colour, standing tall and straight along the walls in almost military configuration. Just like tempting ingredients in a gourmet food shop, the realms of possibility to create exquisite paint combinations seems unending, & is made all the more impressive when hearing the time-intensive process that goes with it. As he lets me join in on the satisfying process of adding linseed oil to his pre-ground yellow ochre and churning the mixture with pestle and mortar into a rich glossy paste, Pedro explains how 18th century painters and decorators would all make their own paint, by purchasing the ingredients and grinding them up –“it’s like cooking”. His technique is methodical, scientific even, yet executed with a passion, verve and a sense of secret knowledge that only 25 years of experience can bring; paint recipes can bring you so far – but “you just know when it feels right”.
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\n Photograph by Amber Rowlands
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\n Photograph by Amber Rowlands
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\n Photograph by Simon Brown.
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\n Gilded Cork Vessel by Pedro
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