I’ve spent an improbably long time painting these drops and the circle of the sun with white gesso, preparing the ground for the red bole primer then the gold leaf. I’m looking for enough gesso that can be sanded down to a smooth surface in this piece, particularly the surface of the sun itself. The monad (circle with the point) will be pure clean gold, representing the purity of spirit sought by philosophical alchemists. The teardrops look excessively bright right now, but they’re going to get a layer of gold, then a glaze of colour over it to dull them down a bit.Â
The Marseilles card is sitting in my easel drawer for easy reference; it’s good to see what the old deck looks like and to compare it to my version while I’m working. I enjoy considering my relationship to this long gone designer who I’ll never meet, but feel a close affinity with.
Justice and Temperance are in a small show in Anaheim. Driving down there yesterday to deliver the works took five hours. Coming back took one. Beware of the vicissitudes of LA traffic!
  
