Friday is art day, and I try to get in some painting time.
Since I got a slow start this week, I wasn't sure how to
navigate the day.
I wanted to get to the next step which is bole.
Bole is earth clay, a pigment highly refind!
Pictured here, it comes in cones.
I put a cone in a plastic bag and pound it with a mallet.
It breaks up easly, and I put it in a container.
Some is powder, some are chuncks about the size of
a quarter. I then add water till it is level to the top of
the clay. I set it aside.
After a bit,(1 hr.) I'll check it, the water has soaked
into the clay. I then add a bit more water till it is again
level to the top of the clay.
This water also will soak into the clay, at this point I
stir it all up. It will be the consistancy of peanut butter.
(If it seem too dry, add water. If it seems too wet, pour
off excess water, or leave the lid off for a bit.)
My clay is now prepared.
(I'll make a containers worth, so I'll have clay ready
when I need it.)
Now, yesterday, before I left ,I measured out 15 grams
of rabbit skin glue.
I add 12 ounces of water to this to soak over night.
Today I heat up, to melt down the RSG.
After assessing my frames, I determine how much bole
I will need.
Because of the samples chosen, I will start with yellow
bole.
For every tablespoon of clay, I add three tablespoons
of RSG.
But not all at once! BE CAREFUL at this point!
If I have 1 tblspn. of clay, I first add 1 tblspn. of glue.
I stir this first. Once this is mixed good I then add the
other two tblspn. and mix.
(If you try to mix all at once, there will always be a
portion that settles to the bottom, and never gets mixed
in right.)
So I figure I'm going to make 5 tblspns. of clay, then I will
need 15 tblspns. of RSG.
I put 5 tblspns of clay into a container.
I add (first) 5 tblspns of RSG then mix well.
Once this is mixed well, I add the remaining 10 tblspns of
RSG and mix everything.
I will then pour this mixture through a paint mesh strianer
as to know it is mixed well, with no lumps!
When you dip your brush there should be 3-5 drips off the
brush.
Technically once the clay & RSG is mixed, it is called bole.
I will put 3 coats of yellow bole on each frame. You must let
each coat dry before the next.
Now It is time to break bread, and have some wine.
I think I'm going to paint. Have a wonderful week end!
Monday I will resume, please stay tuned. Thank you.
12 comments:
Oh my gosh! I am NEVER going to do this! LOL.. never!! I am glad that there are people like you who know how to do it and care enough to do it with such care. I do love gold frames...!!
Celeste! My Friend! It takes people(Artist) like you to to inspire people(gilders) like me
to do my craft!
I Love good art..!!
I'll make a painting sing!*(inspired!)
Bill this is very interesting but like Celeste said I am never going to do this either. Thanks to you I will understand your art better and appreciate it even more. I love this photo also. It's artistic too :) Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us~~~
Jan! Thank you! Does it sounds wordy? Things up to this point may sound complicated, but I
tell you it's fun stuff!
The hard part is laying the gold leaf. It's thinner than a human hair! So handling it is
maticulas! But again, it's fun!
Gilding is no tuffer than BBQing a burger!
Thanks for watching these posts Jan! I appreciate your support!
It isn't to wordy Bill. You are explaining how Gilding is created. I find it fascinating! Please use all the words you need to teach us this art~~~
RSG Enlighten me?
I hope is no the brand of this magnificent bottle of “Vino” you are hidden on the shadows at the left high side of you demonstration table, confess or send my money back.
Serious now! Very well said Bill
Thanks Gilberto! RGS,(Rabbit Skin Glue) is good, but I wouldn't drink it!(ha!)
Friday is wine day! I like to splash a little
wine, and 'throw' a little paint!(If possible)
Pay no attention to those bottles behind that
curtain..
Jan! : )
My gosh! Now I know why people had apprentices, servants and slaves to help them in the olden days. My head is starting to hurt with all this information!
An impressive process, but it also makes me realize that I will never be a gilder, unfortunately. I have enough trouble putting oil paint on a brush, and making a good result from that! ;)
Sheila! Hi! That's why I carry a bottle of asprin where ever I go!
Actually it is harder for me to explain this than it is to do it!
My intention is to make this fun. And it is,
(to me) Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I hope to have this done next week
and I will post some paintings!
Hi Judy, Thank you for bearing with me through
all this! I hope to resume painting when this
gilding post is done.
Well everyone, Thank you for putting up with
this nutty professor!! I promise you all I will have some new stuff in the works.
This blogging is new to me, so I'm throwing my
stuff to see what sticks..
You left out a very important note. No matter how lovely the color and perfect the texture, DO NOT eat the clay!!!!
I thought I was process oriented! As others have said, even if I will not be making clay, your careful delineation of all of your processes are art in and of themselves.
Kaylyn! Correct! You don't want to eat the clay
however, it is not poisonous, it's only refined
earth, so I guess there are minerals that might be good for you, but they have suppliments for that! (ha) thanks for stopping by!
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