Distemper as a medium

Capricorn Bouquet, distemper on panel, 20 x 25 cm

Before the holidays I took a class with Mick Kirkbride using egg tempera and distemper. This is the first chance I've had to use distemper since the course. I have been preparing surfaces for the past few days, ready for the new year and have a few books I'm using for warm up activities but today was a full painting day. 

I loved the start of the distemper process. Everything was loose and exciting.  The rabbit skin glue mixed easily and the light was good. As the day wore on the glue got pesky (I think my studio was a little cool), the light faded and I tightened up. I think the main problem is I wasn't sure what I wanted to accomplish, not knowing the medium, it's hard to know how to use it. On top of all that, I had a bouquet of flowers I bought on sale from the grocery store ( three days ago) still in their wrapping, in the sink, and although I wanted to find an interior, I felt I should use the flowers. Also, when distemper doesn't cooperate, it REALLY doesn't cooperate.  At first I thought of it like working with monotype ink - fighting the medium - In the end I had to get out a hotplate to keep the glue  and the mixed distemper warm enough to use and then it dryed out and flaked off the piece of glass. Glass is cold, so perhaps not the best surface to mix on.

I have some other ideas and motifs I want to explore with distemper and it was only my first effort but I have the sense that it may be an uphill battle.  You never know I might get up tomorrow and have a way to strengthen this, on the other hand it's probably best to move on.