I have been busy this week making a new batch of Madder Lake Pigments. I have included my recipe for you to try.  Other people may have their own preferred methods, however this has always worked very well for me.

MADDER LAKE PIGMENT

100g chopped madder root

50g aluminium potassium sulphate

25g sodium carbonate (soda ash)

Soak the madder roots overnight – strain and place the soaked roots in a cotton drawstring bag. Dispose of the water.

Place the roots (in the bag) in a clean beaker – about 600ml and cover with hot water – about 300ml.

Heat to about 65 degrees centigrade and maintain temperature for an hour. Do not overheat as this will affect the colour.

Check pH which will be around 6 -7.

Remove the dye bundle – squeeze and set aside.

Add 50g of alum potassium sulphate – stir well to dissolve. Return to the heat source and place the cotton bundles back into the beaker.

Continue to simmer for a further hour maintaining the temperature to between 60 – 70 degrees Celsius.

Remove the beaker from the heat source and remove the dye bundle. Squeeze well.

Check pH which will now be reading about 2 – 3.

To raise the pH slowly and carefully add the dissolved sodium carbonate to the beaker – it will froth up so whisk well to control the frothing. Keep checking the pH until 6.5 – 7.00 is achieved.

Transfer to a clean beaker and leave to settle overnight.

The following day syphon the water from above the settled pigment and discard. The remaining pigment can then be filtered through a coffee filter and rinsed a few times with distilled water to remove any residual salt or impurities.

Open up the filter paper and lay it flat to dry.