Making Chalk White Pigment (Whiting) — Grinding and Levigating Natural Chalk

Chalk is one of the most abundant and accessible white pigments on Earth — a soft, fine-grained limestone composed almost entirely of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) from the compressed shells of microscopic marine organisms (coccolithophores) that lived 65-100 million years ago. The white cliffs of Dover, the chalk downs of southern England, the champagne region of France, and the chalk formations of Denmark are all vast deposits of this natural white pigment material.

Processed chalk (known as 'whiting' in the paint trade) has been used since prehistoric times as a white pigment, a filler, a polishing compound, and the foundation of gesso — the white ground applied to wood panels and canvases before painting. Every medieval and Renaissance panel painting began with a gesso ground made from whiting and hide glue. Whiting is also the primary ingredient of traditional distemper paint, putty, and lime-based wall coatings.

Making whiting is one of the simplest pigment processes: crush raw chalk, grind it fine, and levigate (wash) it to separate the finest particles from coarse grit and impurities. The levigation step is the key — water sorting separates particles by size, and the finest fraction (which stays in suspension longest) gives the smoothest, most opaque pigment. The result is a brilliant white powder that mixes with any binder to produce paint, gesso, or coating.

초급

45-60 minutes active, overnight passive

안내

Break the raw chalk into small pieces

Start with a lump of natural chalk (calcium carbonate). Break it into walnut-sized pieces using a hammer or by hand — chalk is soft enough to crumble easily. Remove any flint inclusions, dark streaks, or clay contamination. The purest chalk is brilliant white throughout with no discolouration. About 200 g of raw chalk will produce approximately 150 g of finished whiting after losses from levigation.

이 단계의 재료:

Natural Chalk (Raw Lumps)200 g

Grind to a coarse powder

Crush the chalk pieces in a mortar and pestle until reduced to a coarse powder — roughly the texture of granulated sugar. Chalk is very soft (Mohs hardness 1-3) and grinds easily. Work in batches if the mortar is small. The goal is to break down the lumps enough for levigation — the water will do the final sorting.

필요한 도구:

Mortar and Pestle

Levigate in water to separate fine from coarse

Place the crushed chalk in a large jar or bucket and add 1 litre of clean water. Stir vigorously for 2 minutes to suspend the particles. Let stand for exactly 30 seconds — the coarsest particles will settle to the bottom. Carefully pour the still-cloudy suspension into a second clean container, leaving the settled grit behind. This milky suspension contains the finest chalk particles — the pigment-grade whiting. Repeat the stirring and pouring with the settled residue to extract more fine particles.

필요한 도구:

Glass Jar (500ml)

Let the fine suspension settle overnight

Let the milky suspension stand undisturbed overnight (8-12 hours). The fine chalk particles will settle to the bottom as a dense white layer. The water above will become clear. Carefully pour off the clear water without disturbing the sediment. The settled white mass is your whiting — pure, fine-grained calcium carbonate pigment.

Dry and store the finished whiting

Spread the wet whiting paste on a clean, non-absorbent surface (glass, ceramic, or plastic) in a thin layer and let it dry completely in a warm, dry place. This takes 1-2 days depending on temperature and humidity. Once dry, break up any cakes and grind briefly with a mortar and pestle to restore the powder. The finished whiting is a brilliant white, silky-smooth powder. Store in a sealed jar. Use as a white pigment, a filler in gesso and putty, a base for distemper paint, or a polishing compound.

필요한 도구:

Mortar and Pestle