Gold eh?

 

Untitled (work in progress)
Acrylic and acrylic ink
and Italian imitation gold leaf
on cradled birch panel
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2021
(I titled the blog Gold eh?  Because eh is
how Canadians ask questions especially
in comedy.  Gold leaf, and in particular the
imitation kind, is not easy to work with.
I got the idea to try it from the artist
Bob Burridge, and I think if you want
to use gold as a background, I'd try the
paint he suggested next time, because
it would create a smoother surface to work on.
That's why I'm saying "Gold eh?")

I started the the gold underpainting for this during a long political conversation
with someone on the phone. When I got tired of presenting my side of
the argument, I stopped talking, and started working while I listened. Maybe
that’s the best approach – just let the person talk, and meanwhile get some
work done.

The portrait I’m painting is based on the drawing I showed you on January 5.
At the moment she looks a little cartoony, but I’ve just begun. I glazed over the
Italian imitation gold leaf, but in places the acrylic paint, and acrylic ink I’m
using for the portrait are lifting off. If most of the paint doesn’t come
off I don’t mind the random, somewhat brilliant abstraction of the gold insisting
on itself.

There’s no question about it -- the process is fun. And whatever happens with the
final result, I know I’m learning something and having a good time. And that is a
miracle in these times.