Trying something new. Left: Plaster relief in frame with Italian sepia ink & everyday, made- in-USA gesso.
Since my Mixed Media Workshop at the Asheville Art Museum in February, I've been preoccupied with a couple things. Every year I decide which new medium to try; it helps me stay in shape, creativity-wise. I don't like getting too comfortable. Change is good. A change is necessary and inevitable.
I've always wanted to try working with plaster but never have, not even in my sculpture classes back in college. I mean, I have zero experience and don't even know what the options are, so I figured this would be perfect!
After checking out some amazing talent on YouTube, I made the decision to stucco the outside of my house and add lavish flourishes of plaster in the Rococo style. Unfortunately, due to the unpredictable temperatures of late winter/early spring in the NC mountains, I've had to put these plans aside short-term. Instead, I started out with a simple plaster relief using some leftover porcelain clay I had handy as well as a few obliging plant remnants found in my yard:
These little white flowers have survived the winter somehow- amazing!
So I simply grabbed my rolling pin and took turns placing the plants down on a slab of clay. A few things to keep in mind:
Lay out the foreground first, background last
Make sure flowers are faced down if you want to see them front & center looking at you later in their plaster form
Add variety, always!
Watch out for pet hair- this will show up later
(If opting for an optional frame) Use a wooden frame with an unfinished [rough] interior so the plaster will catch and stay in place
You can't have enough light! I used a headlamp while picking out little flower petals with a pair of tweezers
(Ideally) Wait until you are in a detail oriented mood with a couples hours to spare when you start this project
When you are ready for the Plaster of Paris, don't forget your face mask. The last thing lungs need besides Covid and a cigarette is plaster powder. Mix this outside & be quick; it sets pretty fast. Add plaster powder to the water based on the given measurements until you get a feel for it. I recommend starting with the greater water ratio range before stepping down- the less the water, the less time you have to get the plaster mixture where it needs to be.
I added the plaster like a batter to a cake mold: add some to cover the bottom, pick it up and tap it on the table gently to get out any air bubbles, then add the rest. You have the option of quickly adding in a hook of some sort for hanging. Twine works well while smooth metal doesn't so much. Now here's the best thing- this is set in just 30 minutes. Wow! By the time you clean up and grab a drink, it's ready for the big reveal. Here's mine:
It's best to use two hands, but you get the idea.
All there is left to do is trim the front if needed, mine needed it, and let it cure for two days before painting. You can tell it has finished curing when it is no longer cold to the touch, and of course, two days have passed.
To Paint or not to Paint, That is the Question....& the Answer is up to You!
Here's another one I've done. I sealed it with gesso before adding Copper Leaf. You must seal it first or your metal leaf size will not stick, or dry, or do anything really. I finished with a layer of gloss varnish to seal in the copper from future oxidation. I think next time I'd prefer using a matte varnish so the copper can out-shimmer the rest of it.
Definitely looking forward to playing around some more this spring & summer with flowers from the garden in PLASTER. But first things first, I need to finish up with Winter!
Winter Mixed Media with Silver Leaf
With any Mixed Media project, I start pretty much the same way:
What am I doing? What's the subject? Reference photos always help me- I depend on them
Figure out colors first, then decide whether to paint the background or use collage paper
On this particular day, I decided to go with a collage background for two reasons. #1.) I just received new varieties of white collage paper in the mail in time for this winter scene, & #2.) I didn't feel like rummaging through my many paint tubes on this fine day. Easy as that!
I had permission from the photographer of this particular reference photo I was using. It was essentially two trees in winter on a somewhat barren field with both warm and cool colors. Sometimes winter scenes are just too cold for me, and I liked this one for the warm golds that were present. Also, as this is part of a series, if it is too cold, it might stand out too much. I went with genuine silver leaf as my highlight for this season- mostly in the sky outlining clouds and down on the icy land.
Collage Paper, Italian Sepia Ink, Black 3.0, and Genuine Silver Leaf on 12"x12" Canvas.
Well, that does it.
This completes my series of Mixed Media with Metal Leaf- Four Seasons
I look forward to posting this series for sale on my Etsy Shop tomorrow,
One Last Thing!
Here's a sneak peek at what I'm working on now,
A big canvas celebrating
SPRING
with shimmers of 24k Gold.
Thank you kindly for reading,
Bonnie Parker