Wheat paste is often used in earthen plasters, floors, finishes and alis that need a little extra ‘glue’. It add stickiness and durability. It can keep earthen plaster surfaces from dusting off. We’ve also used it for sticking bike posters to the L.A. landscape ;)
It’s super easy to make…
Wheat Paste Recipe:
2 cups of flour + 2 quarts of water or 1 gallon of water + 4 cups of flour
Add the flour to a little cold water while whisking it in. Just enough to make a soup.
Add water and flour concoction to boiling water and turn to low heat or off. Stir until the mix starts to turn clear.
You can send it through a sieve to remove lumps for fine finishes.
Store the wheat paste in a clean jar with a tight fitting lid. The paste will keep for a few weeks if refrigerated.
Application to earthen mixtures:
Add 20- 25% wheat paste to a plaster or clay paint.
These cookies are from the finish alis used on my floor and rocket stove. When ever you’ve been mixing mud, specifically a color finish, it’s a great idea to dry out the remaining mix for later use. Make mud cookies! You’ll thank yourself when you need to do a little repair. Just add water, mix and apply. No color matching = easy.
I got to tour the Watts Towers this week in south central Los Angeles. Simon or “Sam” Rodia called the sculpture in his backyard Nuestro Pueblo, or “our town.” Spires of ferro-cement, tile, shells, found objects, broken glass mosaics. Crafted meticulously over the course of 33 years (1921–1954). I’m inspired and in awe of what one man can do. A drop in a the bucket adds up to something big in time and that’s what Simon intended to do – make something BIG. You can’t help but wonder about the man behind the art while wandering the space. It would take months to even observe all of the details etched into the intricate monument. A video calledI Build Tower documents the story of Simon and his work ( preview on IMDB ). I like where he says “You gotta do someting, thata they never got ‘em in the world”.
My sister-in-law was looking for local organic CSA farms to provide veggies, and noticed the Seabreeze Organic Farm in San Diego, California. I thought I’d check it out since they have a open house on Saturdays. I was welcomed by offers of fresh baked bread from the cob oven. And what do you know! A beautiful strawbale house. I wish I had my camera. This strawbale is combined with a conventionally framed studio on the back. Mmm, what a lovely farm!
2 cups of flour + 2 quarts of water or 1 gallon of water + 4 cups of flour
