Alabaster

Alabaster

Alabaster is a soft white, mineral rock used for carvings and a source of plaster powder.

Alabaster, a natural stone prized for its unique qualities, is primarily found in desert regions such as Italy, England, Mexico, and the United States of America. It is a rare crystallisation of gypsum, imparting a distinctive texture and translucency.

The stone's singular features, including brown watercolour lines, are attributed to the presence of iron oxide. The translucency of alabaster varies with the temperature at which it is heated; when immersed in high-temperature water, it can become as opaque as marble.

Alabaster's softness allows for easy carving into intricate forms, making it a popular material for sculptures. Additionally, it is often used for ornamental stonework, though its solubility in water makes it unsuitable for outdoor applications.


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Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.