Having lined the gourd with pine pitch (sap) I am ready to gesso the canvas applied to the outer surface. As per my “Crow Pot” (Sept. 18), I am wanting to paint a scene on the canvas that circles the pot.
I had made a paper pattern for the canvas and applied it with Elmer’s carpenter’s glue. For the Crow Pot and other projects, I typically cooked up a batch of rabbit skin glue. Rabbit skin glue is archival and rigorous, but I felt the carpenter’s glue was just as stable and seemed to attach better to the smooth non-pourous surface of the pot.
The paper pattern used to cut the canvas which was applied to the gourd.
Canvas applied to the gourd. Seams are clearly visible. This picture was taken before the pitch was applied to the interior.
I used a thick quick drying oil base gesso from Daniel Smith. I applied and sanded between several coats of gesso.
I lined the opening to the basket with grey tape to protect the pitch lined interior from paint dust. The canvas seams are disappearing.
Finally I drilled holes around the top for the pine needle basketry.
The canvas is now ready to apply the sketch. I’ll paint with oil using a transparent technique.
[...] 29, 2010 by tburgh The October 11, 2010 post about my new gourd basket left with a prepared painting surface. Below are photos of the images I [...]