I have the big golden Crow panel back in the studio, and I’m excited about doing more work to it. For a long time now I’ve imagined a swarm of crows all over a large wall, and I think perhaps the big painting can be the origin of the flock, as if the birds have escaped from the confines of the panel to spread onto the walls of the gallery. I have the piles of panels cut, so I think the next step will be to gild them, then paint a crow onto each one ready for the September event. Each panel will need to be gessoed, painted with a red bole (an undercoat for gilding, made from a very fine red clay) a mordant (the glue), then gilded and wired for hanging.
It’s a lot of work, but I think I can do it if I have help from some of my students. I want to have the new Bombers piece finished soon too, if I can, ready for the November Moorpark exhibit at Jean’s High Studio.Â
I have most of the materials I need in stock, but I’ll need to get the mordant and wiring.Â
I just heard from Bert that he can’t make it til next week to see what I’ve been up to, so I’ll have some time to prepare a little more thoroughly some of the panels for the Crow Flies installation. (I had the date mixed up last Tuesday, he was going to come over this week). I haven’t seen Bert for a while, it’s going to be good to see him again.
