How to Make Rabbit Skin Glue as an Art Size
Buy Rabbit Skin Glue Online
Rabbit skin Glue has been used by artists for hundreds of years as a size and as a component of traditional Gesso – where it is mixed with a powder called whiting or marble dust.
Rabbit skin glue remains flexible and allows the natural colour of the canvas to be seen in areas where paint is not applied.
It also allows a depth of colour when building up layers of paint. It was a favourite component of Rothko’s work.
You can also use water soluble pigment to tint layers of the glue which could give a new dimension to your work.
Gesso made from Rabbit Skin Glue is not flexible and should be applied to board rather than canvas.
You can use rabbit skin glue to prepare board for painting too, including wood panels and MDF.
What is Rabbit Skin Glue?
Rabbit skin glue is a protein glue containing collagen. The clue is in the name - it comes from the hides of rabbits.
It is cheap to make and very stable, having been used extensively by artists throughout the ages. It will bind to the canvas thoroughly and not peel off, it gives a great ground for the paint, and it still allows the texture and the colour of the canvas or linen to show where required.
Why use Rabbit Skin Glue?
Canvas and linen need to be sized so that the paint will not deteriorate the surface of the material by making it brittle and liable to rip. The rabbit skin glue acts as a protective barrier and it is an archival quality glue; being stable over time.
Does it smell? Rabbit skin glue granules have a distinctive smell – I think it smells a bit ‘fishy’. The glue when warm is also a bit smelly it’s like using gelatine in cooking.
Once the glue is applied as a size, and has dried, there is no longer a smell, so your paintings won’t smell when you have finished them. In fact if you are using oil paints the oil and turps will be far stronger!
Where can I Buy Rabbit Skin Glue?
You can buy it in granules, which are a dried out form of the glue, from art suppliers and from art suppliers and several other online stores such as this one here.
Rabbit Skin Glue Recipe
The glue is mixed one part granules to 10-12 parts water, so the easiest way to do this is to get an empty water bottle (I use a 1.5 or 2 litre bottle) and measure it by eye.
You can make it in the kitchen (a bit smelly as mentioned) or in the studio using a hotplate or burner.
It is best to avoid direct heat so create a double burner system by putting a slightly smaller pan or bowl inside a pan of water, or you can stand your plastic water bottle in the pan of hot water, but you must be really careful not to overheat it.
Whatever you are making and storing your glue in is best kept just for the purpose of making rabbit skin glue so you don’t contaminate it or anything else with other ingredients!
Materials
2 old pans – one bigger than the other (or a large pan and a heatproof bowl to fit inside it).
An empty water bottle with lid – sized to suit the quantity you need.
Heat source.
Old spoon to stir it.
Ingredients
A bag of glue granules
Water
Method
Add approx. 12 parts water to 1 part glue granules, put the lid on (or cover it with cling film if you are not using the bottle) and leave to soak at least overnight. It can be a stronger glue mix but don’t make it weaker than 12:1
You can leave it to soak like this for a couple of days if you like. The granules will absorb the moisture and swell up. If you remember you can give it a gentle shake from time to time.
Once it is fully soaked, heat the mixture using the double boiler. I do this on a low heat and stir it from time to time.
If you are in a hurry you can warm it on a higher heat but you will need to stir it constantly to make sure you don’t get hot spots in the mix.
However you decide to heat your mix you must not allow the glue to boil as it will ruin it and you will have to start again. The ideal temperature is below 60 degrees Celsius.
Make sure all the glue granules are fully dissolved. The mixture will be straw-coloured, viscous and almost clear. Remove it from the heat.
You can then apply the rabbit skin glue directly to the canvas or linen using a large brush, while it is still warm.
Build up the size in layers, working one way across the surface then at right angles on the next layer to ensure even application.
I usually use about 3-4 coats, but you will work out what suits your work.
If it the glue gets too gelatinous between coats return it to the heat before using.
The glue can be rewarmed a couple of times and it will last a couple of days in a cool environment. However it is a breeding-ground for bacteria, being moist and full of protein so it will go off. (Then it really is smelly stuff.)
Storing and Reusing Rabbit Skin Glue
You can store the glue in the fridge, but make sure you don’t eat it! Keep it in something airtight.
I wouldn’t keep it more than a week – but I believe some do. Don’t freeze it.
To be honest the glue is cheap enough to make fresh, the only thing you need to factor in is the time spent soaking it.
The best thing to do is stretch, or buy, a batch of canvases, make a large enough pot of rabbit skin glue to do the lot, and then throw away any glue you don’t use.
Rabbit skin glue remains flexible and allows the natural colour of the canvas to be seen in areas where paint is not applied.
It also allows a depth of colour when building up layers of paint. It was a favourite component of Rothko’s work.
You can also use water soluble pigment to tint layers of the glue which could give a new dimension to your work.
Gesso made from Rabbit Skin Glue is not flexible and should be applied to board rather than canvas.
You can use rabbit skin glue to prepare board for painting too, including wood panels and MDF.
What is Rabbit Skin Glue?
Rabbit skin glue is a protein glue containing collagen. The clue is in the name - it comes from the hides of rabbits.
It is cheap to make and very stable, having been used extensively by artists throughout the ages. It will bind to the canvas thoroughly and not peel off, it gives a great ground for the paint, and it still allows the texture and the colour of the canvas or linen to show where required.
Why use Rabbit Skin Glue?
Canvas and linen need to be sized so that the paint will not deteriorate the surface of the material by making it brittle and liable to rip. The rabbit skin glue acts as a protective barrier and it is an archival quality glue; being stable over time.
Does it smell? Rabbit skin glue granules have a distinctive smell – I think it smells a bit ‘fishy’. The glue when warm is also a bit smelly it’s like using gelatine in cooking.
Once the glue is applied as a size, and has dried, there is no longer a smell, so your paintings won’t smell when you have finished them. In fact if you are using oil paints the oil and turps will be far stronger!
Where can I Buy Rabbit Skin Glue?
You can buy it in granules, which are a dried out form of the glue, from art suppliers and from art suppliers and several other online stores such as this one here.
Rabbit Skin Glue Recipe
The glue is mixed one part granules to 10-12 parts water, so the easiest way to do this is to get an empty water bottle (I use a 1.5 or 2 litre bottle) and measure it by eye.
You can make it in the kitchen (a bit smelly as mentioned) or in the studio using a hotplate or burner.
It is best to avoid direct heat so create a double burner system by putting a slightly smaller pan or bowl inside a pan of water, or you can stand your plastic water bottle in the pan of hot water, but you must be really careful not to overheat it.
Whatever you are making and storing your glue in is best kept just for the purpose of making rabbit skin glue so you don’t contaminate it or anything else with other ingredients!
Materials
2 old pans – one bigger than the other (or a large pan and a heatproof bowl to fit inside it).
An empty water bottle with lid – sized to suit the quantity you need.
Heat source.
Old spoon to stir it.
Ingredients
A bag of glue granules
Water
Method
Add approx. 12 parts water to 1 part glue granules, put the lid on (or cover it with cling film if you are not using the bottle) and leave to soak at least overnight. It can be a stronger glue mix but don’t make it weaker than 12:1
You can leave it to soak like this for a couple of days if you like. The granules will absorb the moisture and swell up. If you remember you can give it a gentle shake from time to time.
Once it is fully soaked, heat the mixture using the double boiler. I do this on a low heat and stir it from time to time.
If you are in a hurry you can warm it on a higher heat but you will need to stir it constantly to make sure you don’t get hot spots in the mix.
However you decide to heat your mix you must not allow the glue to boil as it will ruin it and you will have to start again. The ideal temperature is below 60 degrees Celsius.
Make sure all the glue granules are fully dissolved. The mixture will be straw-coloured, viscous and almost clear. Remove it from the heat.
You can then apply the rabbit skin glue directly to the canvas or linen using a large brush, while it is still warm.
Build up the size in layers, working one way across the surface then at right angles on the next layer to ensure even application.
I usually use about 3-4 coats, but you will work out what suits your work.
If it the glue gets too gelatinous between coats return it to the heat before using.
The glue can be rewarmed a couple of times and it will last a couple of days in a cool environment. However it is a breeding-ground for bacteria, being moist and full of protein so it will go off. (Then it really is smelly stuff.)
Storing and Reusing Rabbit Skin Glue
You can store the glue in the fridge, but make sure you don’t eat it! Keep it in something airtight.
I wouldn’t keep it more than a week – but I believe some do. Don’t freeze it.
To be honest the glue is cheap enough to make fresh, the only thing you need to factor in is the time spent soaking it.
The best thing to do is stretch, or buy, a batch of canvases, make a large enough pot of rabbit skin glue to do the lot, and then throw away any glue you don’t use.