Michael_Molnar

Nice craquelure job. All in all very pleasing.

Setup is indeed key.

I agree.

There are lots of dichromatic modern pigments that can simulate old varnishes. Before artist Don Jusko died, we had an extensive exchange of emails regarding Indian Yellow (dual tone) dichromatic pigments. His last email said to stock up on PY153 before supplies run out. (I did.) Here is a link to one of his web pages that gives an extensive list of those beautiful pigments. It focuses on his favorite dichromatic pigment PY 153. http://www.realcolorwheel.com/indianyellowtobrownPY153.htm Follow the other links on that page to learn about these pigments. BTW, if you mix natural and synthetic pigments, you are combing fugitive and permanent colorants. That is a recipe for a time bomb. Bruce Carlson told me how some not very old violins come to him for repair work. He sees where the natural cochineal/madder faded but the synthetic Prussian Blue, a color complement darkening reds, remained strong. Yep, a blue haze permeates that varnish. So, please stop repeating the erroneous claim that ALL artist pigments are monochromatic. They are not. Moreover, dichromatic effects can be nicely achieved by combining pigments. I have submitted to the VSA Journal a paper related to this subject. That process started 6 months ago. Hope I’m around to see it get published.

Thank you . This means a lot to me.

A few of these makers confuse the intention or objective of their recipe. That is, are they proposing ingredients as candidates for an historically accurate Cremonese recipe, or are the ingredients good for producing a varnish system that looks similar to or perhaps even better than Cremonese instruments? I hope everyone understands this. As for myself, I do both, but now tend to ignore historical ingredients because they are unstable and strongly dependent on the application procedure.

Thanks. I try not to dwell on the bad aspects in my life. Anyhow, let’s return to talking about varnish not me. Sometime this month I will be reporting on my progress, or lack thereof, with the Coronaviolin. Stay tuned.

It’s called bullet therapy. Too early. That is not in the cards with this lung cancer. I have some of the best doctors in NJ working for me, including a 20 physician board reviewing my care regimen. Life is good.

I wrote this from my hospital bed still on pain killers. Now, I appreciate how I should not post nor drive.

@David Burgess I suggest that you start a Contemporary Makers thread illustrating photos of your workmanship with bee stings, scrolls, edge work, etc. I know you are an accomplished photographer. Claim copyright protection to control use of you need it.

I control the burning of stain like the old artists, namely I make a distemper.

Great job, @BassClef.

Happy New Year.

I use 0.020” blue spring steel stock for scrapers.

My misguided vitriol was direct at this. I’m glad that we straightened this out. It is time to move on.