2024 Project Reveal...
Hello Everyone!
I would like to reveal this year’s MAJOR project..a painted
plaster medallion to be mounted as wall art. The project was actually “born” in
2016 when I attended a short course taught by a master
plasterer. My favorite part was when we did decorative
plaster as that was the most crafty. We were given the opportunity to take our
class made medallions home and I jumped at the chance.
Me with Medallion, 2016 |
At the time, I didn’t know how to paint artistically, the closest being when I painted wood trim in my home unit. I DO remember the instructor mentioning using an oil based primer as a first step. Struggling with how to present this project, I will start with material from 2016. I do have some process videos but I am leary of posting on the Blogger platform, so I will be posting a couple of them on Instagram @planetnicecrafts and Etsy PlanetNiceOdyssey as they have been more reliable.
According to my old photos, the decorative medallion was
created with two ingredients: USG No.1 Moulding Plaster and GoldBond Two-Way
Hardwall. This particular design was a previous custom job for the instructor
so he had already created a mold from some type of rubber material. Off the
shelf decorative plaster can be purchased all ready to paint too.
The mold prepared by instructor, 2016 |
Below is a picture of the plaster being formed in the mold – it is a similar process to artistic sculpture. Don’t ask me what is or why the netting material is there (I don’t remember!). After it was turned out and before the end of the short course, we must have trimmed it away.
Plaster in the mold, 2016 |
For more than seven years, I stored the medallion on my
spare bed under some paper towels. I dusted
and moved it once a year when I did my annual craft room inventory and
cleaning. Until 2024….
At last the plaster medallion, was primed.
Plaster Medallion Primed, 2024 |
Not having a clue what the endgame was going to be for this
piece, I started doing some internet research. Decorative plaster medallions as
wall art is not a very popular topic but I did find this article: DIY Framed Plaster Medallion Wall Art. The project was already growing as when
I brought the medallion home in 2016, I didn’t think too much about a frame or
other details like color. The article did a distressed white which even though
it looks simple, it does require multiple steps (under color, top color, etc).
Eventually, I did think the medallion could use some color, maybe something
simple like gold. But how do you mix the right color of gold? It turns out that
it is very difficult but before I got there on this artistic project journey, I
did some color studies in Photoshop.
Here is the first round:
First Round of Color Studies
I asked a few people for feedback and everyone liked the one
on the right as there is more contrast, and therefore more interest.
I like it too but then thought the one color for the wreath,
torch, ribbons, and beads looked a bit flat so I added a second coat of "paint" to the
first version color study to make a second version:
Color Study, Second Round |
At this point, it was determined that the gold would be
“flat” with no metallic – in theory metallics sound great with lots of bling,
but a little goes a long way I found in my research. Here I
added a black to the gold for the ribbons and a silver gray for the torch,
which looks very similar to the background now. Also the leaves of wreath have
just a touch of contrast at the tips. This color study is used for preliminary
work and I don’t require these exact colors in order for the medallion to be a
success.
Now, I was ready to actually paint, but wait..I have to mix
the colors and this is my first go with oil paints. The first color was the
inner cream which was basically white with a tiny drop of yellow. Then, the
gold which involved tempering the yellow with purple (opposites on the color
wheel). End of first session photos (the beads were
tricky!).
End of First Painting Session, 2024 |
Detail of Beads, 2024 |
Next session was the second coat on the wreath and the start
of the highlights (which were FUN!).
End of Second Painting Session, 2024 |
Detail of Wreath, 2024 Yellow paint was becoming scarce so I bought some new fresh paint that wasn’t exactly like the old paint but I went with it at least for the third session. |
End of Third Painting Session, 2024 |
Happy Spring (1 week away) and Solar Eclipse (3 and a half
weeks away).
Take Care!
Looks really cool! I like your final color choices!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alyssa D. The color study was a guide but then the paint SPOKE.
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