Material Memory Studio — Research
Material Research Library
A living archive of material references, historical sources, biomaterial experiments, pigments, binders, and artistic research — accumulated across 12 countries and ongoing studio practice.
Each entry includes what the material is, why artists use it, historical context, basic process, common failures, and Jay's own studio notes. The library grows with each workshop, residency, and research trip.
Field Research
Material Trips
Field research documentation — New York · Boston · and beyond
Browse by Category
Egg Tempera
Egg yolk as paint binder — history, preparation, and layering with one of painting's most stable mediums
Distemper
Animal glue paint — the matte, opaque counterpart to egg tempera in European tradition
Casein & Milk Paint
Milk protein as binder — opaque and matte, the pair to egg tempera in natural paint practice
Drying Oils & Resins
Linseed oil, perilla oil, sun-oxidized linseed, Canada Balsam, pine resin — binders for oil painting and natural varnishes
Learn & Make
From archive to studio — learn these materials in person
The research here forms the foundation of our workshops and 1:1 material consultations. If you want to work with a specific material — hands-on, in the studio — reach out.