Gold leaf and Ireland!
Hey there lovelies!
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” - Pablo Picasso
Honestly, it feels like it has been a very busy week/month. Feeling like a sloth working through my checklist of things I want/need to accomplish. That feeling that there are not enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do is very real. Yeah I’ve probably got too many things on my list to start with. Working on it.
The other kind of painting
I have been very busy painting. Bedrooms actually, not exactly artwork as such. But they do look great! We have two bedrooms down in our basement, one of those rooms was being used as my art studio - but I’ve been kicked out of there as our older daughter is coming back to live with us. So those two rooms are getting a refresh. I’m almost done. Also hoping to get some artwork up in those rooms before I hand them over too. Fingers crossed that these two older kids let me.
My art space has been relegated to an unfinished corner in the basement and I now find myself working more and more on the kitchen table - the lighting is so much better there. I just have to remember to pack my things up before dinner. I do see all those fancy artist spaces with perfect natural lighting. Longing and envy seep in quite easily. It's constant, and I have to remind myself that my art isn’t limited by my space. I do love working at the kitchen table or getting messy in my basement space tho.
Landscapes, Ireland and 100 day project!
My younger daughter is off to Ireland next spring with her high school rugby team! Exciting stuff! Unfortunately that means a ton of fundraising (big sigh). As much as I would love to travel with her to Ireland, I would have to stick roughly to her itineray and there is actually a lot more that I would want to see and do. Maybe I could do my own thing? Or go at a different time?
Anyhoo, to help kick off my daughters fundraising effort I am creating some mini watercolor landscapes with gold leaf - much like the one below - and will be selling these at an affordable price on my Esty shop.
Working with gold leaf is so much fun, but there are a few tricks to the process (and a ton of YouTube videos).
It can make quite a mess (and gets everywhere) with all the flakes flying everywhere so working on a big piece of paper or cardboard can help contain the majority of it, as well as making it easier to pour the leftovers into a zip log bag.
Don’t sneeze!
Keep the flakey leftovers in a zip log bag - these can be used for smaller projects, gilding frames, or kids art projects etc.
Painting a red basecoat (before painting on the sizing) can help make the gold pop.
Adhere the gold leaf last when painting with acrylics and watercolor, otherwise the gold will tarnish. Unless of course it’s real gold.
Imitation gold leaf will need to be sealed as it will also tarnish over time.
Gold leaf can go on top of oil paints - if its completely dry that is, like in 6 to 12 months time. Otherwise just adhere it to your canvas first and then paint.
My current thinking is to make about 100 of these and as such it will also double as a 100 day project. I am yet to decide how I will release these. Either in small manageable batches or all at once. What are your thoughts on this?
Don’t worry, you'll be the first to find out what’s happening! I’ll also post progress updates on Notes, IG, and Threads too!
Watch this space and thank you for being here!
Viv.