Walkthrough of recent exhibition of new mixed media works on canvas and board at 54 The Gallery.
Painting
Gold Leaf
I’m currently working on a series of large canvasses. I’m interested in the technique used in Iranian mosques where gold leaf is sieved to create minute balls of gold. An Iranian restorer explained to me how she uses a restorer’s sieve to achieve the same results. In place of a sieve, I’ve used a strainer, using a soft paintbrush in a circular motion to create points of light.
This series of work will be shown later in the year (Sept) at 54 The Gallery in Mayfair – details to follow.
Analytical aspects of conservation
It was a privileged to meet Christine Sitwell, the National Trust paintings expert at her talk, Analytical aspects of conservation in painting, organised by The Quekett Club in the Natural History Museum yesterday. It was fascinating to hear her speak about the process of attribution in relation to the Rembrandt self-portrait at the National Trust’s Buckland Abbey in Devon.
Christine talked about how technology is used to identify different periods through examination of different layers (ground), pigment and varnish. Minute specs of paint – usually taken from a tear or from the side – are examined under the microscope. She talked about the value of real pigments (various periods) and the use of spectronomy to pinpoint elements such as pigments, cobalt, potassium, nickel, smelt.
I very much hope that they can also authenticate the Titan as the one missing from the series.
Irma Irsara 