[MR] A Peerage Scroll

[Brian Pfeifer]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: atlantia-admin at atlantia.sca.org
>[mailto:atlantia-admin at atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Lucinda Welenc
>Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 3:49 PM
>To: merry rose
>Subject: Re: [MR] A Peerage Scroll

>
>Most impressive!  Can the scribes in the tavern confirm that
>Goldwork is done *first* and then painted around?  I would
>have thought that the painting would be first, and then the
>gilding added.
>
>--
>Alanna


I know this is not authoritative, but I thought some might be interested. My
grade school art teacher, and church organist, and chior director, and cool
guy, used to paint religious icons and gave one to my older brother as a
Confirmation present. Of course he did every other art under the sun as
well, but  since gold leaf is the topic at hand, I'll just stick to the
icons. Here's what I remember:

First he took a board and carved out a field in which to paint. He then
covered the field with coat after coat of gesso until he had built ou a
thick, smooth surface. He then sketched in his design by scratching the
gesso surface with a stylus. I'm sure he put down some form a siezing, but
at that age I was fastinated by the thin sheets of gold, and not as
concerned with learning technique. The gold leaf went down, and I remember
him brushing off the gold that was "outside the lines." Then he mixed up his
egg tempura paints and went to work. I was amazed that he could just mix
some powders with an egg yolk and a little water and paint. One last detail.
I swear that he created a translucent effect in places by painting directly
on top of the gold leaf. I have recently witnessed guache sitting in bubbles
on top of gold leaf and not laying down, so I don't know if it's a
difference of medium, or that my memory is faulty, but those are the
memories I have of icon painting. Mr Manski always put down his gold leaf
before the paints.

-----------------------------------------------------
Brian J. Pfeifer		Lord Sylvanus Perrin
Network Security Engineer	Baronial Warlord
brian_pfeifer at hotmail.com	Barony of Storvik
http://sabletower.homestead.com	Order of the Sea Stag




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