Ceremony
by Jennifer Baird
Title
Ceremony
Artist
Jennifer Baird
Medium
Painting - Oil On Gilded Canvas
Description
I gilded this entire canvas with two layers of gold-leaf before I knew what to paint on it. I wanted to do something both delicate and strong. Something timeless, meditative, calm, beautiful and noble. This painting celebrates the exquisite forms of five clay vessels that I have in my studio.
First I ran bands of liquid transparent oil glazes diagonally across the canvas and then painted the black and white vertical bands with a very broad brush - opaque at the centres, gradually become more transparent toward the edges. I waited until the first sycamore leaves of spring unfurled to get these lovely, delicate imprints of falling leaves (paradoxically indicative of autumn!) The thick oil impasto of the pots was delightful to work but took many weeks to dry.
The pots stand on a band of sgraffito that hints at a hidden, secret language. The 'ceremony' concerns the ingredients of the painting, the artist (who will always be present) and the viewer. It is happening now.
Uploaded
July 21st, 2020
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