Joyous

Watercolor & 24-ct gold leaf on paper, 22 x 22 cm, Private Collection

A joyous pair of goldfinches in a birch tree to finish the exhibition. The background may remind you of Renaissance patterning— symmetrical, but with a contemporary twist. Gold has been used in art for thousands of years, and by many cultures. So here is just a note on how I use the gold. I lay pure 24-carat gold leaf alongside and around the painted image, which is made first—usually in watercolor, sometimes with gouache on paper or gesso. I use a version of sgraffito or engraving with a sharp point to create varying textures that enrich the surface and catch the light. Gold leaf has a fascination for me—it can ‘illuminate’ a painting. It glows even in the darkest corner. At different times of day the look of the gold, and therefore the whole painting, will change as the light passing over it changes. This ever-changing effect animates the room and takes us to another place.