WOMENS'S WORLD,

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 4 March 1926, Page 19

WOMENS'S WORLD,

GESSO WORK

REVIVAL OF AX OLD AET

A very interesting revival in the art world is that of gesso work. This work •;- used a great deal in Italy, especially

r decorations in churches.

The favourite form of modern gesso expresses itself in low relief, and relies nn "lorious colouring to obtain the licsired result. It is a useful art. as the i-n»t of materials is small, and all kind? , i cast-offs in the way of jam jars, honey iars, or similar things can be decorated Miccesefully. An earthenware honey jar on which a bunch of cherries had been painted, made an excellent cottage sugar l.iisin. and the home worker will be able to turn many things to good account. Tiifre is nothing very difficult about

: ; if process. Draw or trace the outline cif any design you choose, then raise the principal parts of the design, such as the ■ lerries, stalks and portions of the leaves. For tins gesso powder must be mixed with water until it is the eonsis.teney of cream. Cover the part? to be raised, u»ing a sable brush. If you twist your brush as you work, it will not show brush marks. The paste should

lio left to dry. and anything that does nut stand out boldly enough must l>e raised a little more. If the paste does not look very smooth when it is quite ilry. rub it over gently with an old piece uf sandpaper.

The next step is to colour your work. Franeetti colours, which are specially made for gesso, are the easiest to use. and are unequalled for depth and brilliance of colour, giving the appearance of enamelling. The workecan be done iilso in ordinary water colours, but if these are used, care should be taken to avoid streaks and hard lines. Gesso work is usually brightly coloured, as most of the Italian examples are very ornate and show a generous use of gold. When the colouring is finished nnd dry. gesso varnish liiiist be carefully painted over the decorated parts. Should you be working on a coloured box. varnish all over. Two coats may be needed, and arc more satisfactory: if the covering of varnish is not thick enough, the work soon lookb shabby.

There are just a fey.- points which phnuld be remembered when you are doing this work. First of all, the lcs a you handle it, the better. Use a modelling t< ol as much as possible when fixing die paste to any article. Water should be used to dilute the colours, and the paste must be absolutely dry before you apply the colour; otherwise, when it is dry, it will have a speckly appearance. If you are working on a lightly made article, be careful to avoid making the modelling heavy: if it is. the whole efl'ect will be spoilt. Dust your hands first with a little geseo powder, and you will find it much easier to use the paste, which must he applied when plastic. Finally, whenever possible, model and colour the flowers from nature, as the result will be much more effective.