Alabaster
Gesso
Terra Alba
Plaster of Paris
A filler in paint which is more famous for its use in gesso and grounds. Artiscreation lists Calcium sulfate dihydrate as a high quality Terra Alba, and Alabaster Natural Hydrated Calcium Sulfate, under PW25.
It is close to transparent in oil.
Monona Rossol notes that one should employ PNOS limits for respirable dust, see her work available through her site. Used as an extender.
PW25 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com
Information about PW25 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors, General information about this class of pigments from Handprint
Rossol, Monona. The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide. New York, NY : Allworth Press, 2001. The book is rather dated, updated information is available from her website.
CAMEO Materials Database: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (Accessed June 2025). Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Calcium_sulfate,_dihydrate. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that we are not experts in health and safety and we are not toxicologists, please consult the proper experts. We are not liable for any issues that may arise from the use of our website or its contents. The information contained in this site is provided without warranty or guarantee of any kind. We do not necessarily endorse any other website that are linked from our site. For any important pigment specs, please reference the manufacturer details. If you discover errors or omissions, please reach out through our contact form. Thank you.
