"GESSO WORK”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 2 May 1925, Page 15

"GESSO WORK”

REVIVAL OF AN OLD ART A very interesting revival in the art world is that of gesso woik. This work is used a great deal in Italy, especially for decorations in churches.) The favourite form of modern gesso expresses itself in low relict, and relies | on glorious colouring to obtain the de»sired icsult. It is a useful art. as the cost of materials is small, and all kinds of cast-off’s in the iray of jam jars, honey jars, or s inilar things can be decorated successfully. An earthenware honey jar on which a bunch of cherries had been painted made an excellent cottage sugar basin, and the home worker will b? able to turn many things to good account. . There is nothing very difficult about Hie ’process. Draw or trace the outline of any design you choose, then raise the principal parts of the design, such as the cherries, stalks and portions of th.- ’eaves. For this gesso powder nriist bo mixed with water until it is the consistency of cream. Cover the parts to ba raised, using a sable brush. If you twist your brush as you work it wi’l not show brush marks. The paste should be left to dry, and anything that does not stand out boldly enough must bo raistri a little more. If the paste does not look very smooth when it is quitfi dry, rub it over gently with an old piece of sandpaper. The next step is to co’our your work. Francefti colours, which are • specially made for gesso, are the easiest to use, and are unequalled for depth and brib bnnee of colour, eiving the appearance of enamelling. The work can bo done also in ordinary water colours, but if tli.-se are used care should ae taken to avoid streaks- and hard lines. Gesso work is usually brightly - coloured, as most of the Italian examp'os are very ornate, and show a generous use of gold. When the colouring is finished and drv. gesso varnish must be carefully painted over the decorated parts. Should you be working r.n a coloured box, varnish all oyer. Two coats may be needed, and are more satisfactory: if the ( covering of varnish is not thick enough the work soon looks shabby. There are just a few points which should be remembe’ed when vou are doing this worir. First of all, the less vou handle it the better. T'se a modelling tool as much as possible when fixing the paste to any article. Water should be use I to di'ute the colours, and the paste must be absolutely dry before you app'y the colour; otherwise, when it is drv it will have a speekly annenrance. Tf vou are working on a lightlv made artielw be careful to avoid making the mod-Ilin-' heavy; if it is, the. who'e effe'-t will be snoilt. Dust your hands first with a little gesso powder, and you will find it much easier to use the pas’e. which must be applied when plastic. Rinallv, whenever possib’e, model and colour the flowers from nature, as the result will be much more effective. ITALIAN CAULIFLOWERS. One cauliflower, 2oz. of spaghetti, loz. of butter, 2oz.' cheese, 1 gill of milk, 1 t<ms>’oonful of flour, salt and pepper. Wash the cauliflower in salted water and boil until tender. Break the spaghetti into small pieces and simmer in a little warm water until it is soft and has absorbed all the water. Make a . white sauce with the butter, milk, salt, and pepper; add loz. of cheese to this and pour it over the cauliflower. Add the remainder of the cheese to the spaghetti, season with salt and pepper, I make very hot, and place round the cauliflower.