Chalk, Marble Dust, Whiting and Calcium Carbonate
Calcium Carbonate is the generic name for a variety of different minerals found all over the world. For artists and craftspeople there are two types of the material: Chalk and Marble Dust. So what does all mean? Well, depending on your application and the end result you are searching for, one of the calcium carbonates will suit your needs.
French Chalk (otherwise known as french whiting) is used in creating a traditional gesso made with rabbit skin glue. In gilding, the chalk ground (gesso) forms the substrate for the bole clay, which is applied as a soft ground for water gilding techniques. For a chalk ground recipe and to learn more about water gilding techniques, please visit our Clay Bole Instructional Page: sinopiaclaybole.com Marble Dust is also used in making gesso though it tends to be a harder and not as white as the French Chalk. Acrylic gesso uses marble dust as one of the primary components. It is used as an ingredient in Venetian and Marmorino plaster. It to can be used as a filler for paints or in the manufacture of soft pastels Talc is nothing like calcium carbonate. It's primary function is as a filler and lubricant. It is used widely in industrial applications for a seemingly endless array of possibilities. |