I started making poster paste while researching Mark Bradfords practise, I was curious to see why such a simple product was still in everyday use.

I raided the cupboard then popped to the supermarket to find the various ingredients that were suggested to make good old fashioned Paste Glue- plus flavours and smells because I was in the mood, may be they would muck it up- only one way to find out, was to try it. I remember making glue with my grandmother when I was tiny on the green bakerlite table in her kitchen. The sound of the bakelite gave the tables composition away, it had a brittle tap. Grandma told me her Aunty taught her to make paper paste when she was my age.

I found a website I’m sure she would have raised an perfectly plucked eye brow at- Although I can’t be sure, she was a rebel granny for sure.

Worked first time. Brilliant. Simple. Surprising.

I tried a few others….dont bother they take a lot of time and give the same result.

Flour paste lasts about one week and then;

Lid on ferments-smelt like beer but I was not tempted.

Lid off goes mouly -and very smelly like bins.

Pasting- After a lot of testing I pasted up a sample canvas. With my Fortnum and mason window printouts.

I opted for the wheat flour paste with no corn flour as the corn flower left a white residue on the surface.

The addition of sugar defiantly helped the sticking qualities and the paper stayed on. Vanilla made it taste and smell nice, I would have added rose and violets but Tescos didn’t have any.

It would have been the Fortnums smell all in one glue.

I was always drawn to the window displays at Fortnums, hundreds of different teas beautifully packaged from around the world. Grandma always took me there for treats. She explained how to make the ”perfect” cucumber sandwich- they peeled the cucumbers and then sliced them so thinly that you that you could see the knife though the slice as they were cut. She delicately ate them, they were her favourites with Early Grey tea.

Grandma also showed me how to peel grapes with a knife and fork. Teaches dexterity. I can still tackle most things with a knife and fork.

Perfect cucumber sandwiches –

link:https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/13/how-to-make-perfect-cucumber-sandwiches

Sticking

I expanded the materials I was pasting. I became more curious to see what it would stick and went in search of more materials. The RCA kitchen bins produced sweet and chocolate rappers tea leaves cellophane and various types of paper.

poster paste. Another link here-with instruction on how to make political poster paste and how to put up your posters politically.

I think the recipe is unnecessarily laborious, I like quick results, I don’t like the material getting in the way of my thoughts, it needs to add to the process not frustrate it.

https://crimethinc.com/2017/07/18/a-field-guide-to-wheatpasting-everything-you-need-to-know-to-blanket-the-world-in-posters

To make wheatpaste, mix two parts white or whole-grain wheat flour with three parts water, stir out any lumps, and heat the mixture to a boil. When it thickens, add more water; continue cooking it on low heat for at least half an hour, stirring constantly so as not to burn it. Some people add a little sugar or cornstarch for extra stickiness; don’t be afraid to experiment. Wheatpaste, once made, will last for a while if kept in sealed containers, though eventually it will dry up or become rotten—and sealed containers of it have been known to burst, to unfortunate effect. Keep them in a refrigerator if you can.

PS. Anna was right to say no. Candle wax can be highly dangerous.