“Building Down The Hill” - original landscape painting in casein

Casein dries quickly, both in the painting and on the palette.

This small work began as a way to use up some paint left over from another work. In this case the scene is just outside one of my studio windows. It features a snowy landscape and smoke from a chimney on this cold morning. The touch of warm light make the scene feel warmer than it actually was.

Casein is a medium I have explored and experimented with for several years. It is a water soluble medium until it is fully dry. Some water moisture on the brush is really needed to activate the binder, which is milk protein.

Being a watercolorist and used to the transparency and translucent effects possible in that medium, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that some translucent effects are possible in this medium as well. In this work, the warmth on the sunlight walls of the building was accomplished by layering thinned, translucent white paint over the warm undertone on the canvas. The walls seem to glow a bit with reflection of the bright warm sunlight.