[Ansteorra] Renaissance Fresco class in Houston

[Hillary Greenslade]

This was forwarded to me, so thought I'd let other artisans know about it.  
Sorry there is not an Ansteorran A&S only e-list (hum, perhaps a new idea).  

Some of you artisans do beautiful work with icons, paintings and wall banners, 
so thought you'd be interested in a related medium and an intriging class.   
I was unable to locate a website about the class, but contact info is below. 

Cheers, Hillary 


> Subject: [texasclay] Hands-on fresco seminar in Houston
> Reply-To: texasclay at yahoogroups.com
> 
> WHAT: Introduction to Renaissance Fresco, a hands-on seminar
> WHO: Sponsored by the Houston Women's Caucus for Art
> WHEN: Saturday, May 28, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
> WHERE: The Foundry, 1712 Burnett Street, Houston, Tx 77026
> ADMISSION: Seminar fees range from $215 - $255, including imported pigments to take home
> 
> 
> "Fresco is forever," says artist Jesus Cueto, who will conduct Introduction to Renaissance
> Fresco, a hands-on seminar for those who want to create a work of art using traditional fresco
> techniques and materials. 
> 
> Fresco means fresh. Earth pigments are applied to fresh, damp plaster. As the plaster cures, a
> chemical bond forms to unite the pigments with the plaster. If the plastered wall stays up, then
> the fresco stays up. That's why, when tourists marvel at the stunning, centuries-old artwork in
> European cathedrals, they're marveling at fresco.
> 
> Participants at the seminar will create a fresco on a wood panel using their own designs. 
> 
> Fresco is not taught in most art schools in the U.S. today. So the necessary supplies -- lime
> plaster, earth pigments, marble dust -- can be difficult to acquire. 
> 
> Jesus addressed part of the problem by slaking lime in his garage for over a year in preparation
> for creating the required lime plaster. He ordered earth pigments from Germany.  And the marble
> dust he found -- well, it's mediocre, but workable. 
> 
> Seminar participants will learn how to prepare the wood panel for the plaster, mix the plaster,
> apply the plaster, determine when the plaster is ready for the pigments, and then convert their
> designs into frescos they can take home.
> 
> Houston Women's Caucus for Art is presenting this seminar because the group's president and
> chief art instigator, Joy Mullett, has been teaching herself fresco for years using old art
> books. She was delighted to encounter Jesus, a relatively new Houston resident, on an internet
> list made up of fresco aficionados. 
> 
> "He's classically trained in art and he taught in Peru. He has a lot to offer to Houston
> architects, decorative painters, and artists who seek a technique for public art that meets
> design requirements for permanence and beauty," says Mullett. 
> 
> A syllabus and participant information sheet follows.
> 
> 
> SYLLABUS
> 
> The lesson objective is to make small sized (15" x 15") frescoes on panels. 
> 
> The participants will be guided towards discovery of the secrets of the ancient techniques of
> fresco buono so that they reach a more complete understanding of this art. 
> 
> Participants must bring their own brushes and a simple design (15" x 15") to transfer to the
> plaster. 
> 
> At the end of the day, each student will have a fresco panel, a little spatula knife, and
> powdered pigment samples.
> 
> 1. Introduction: 
> 
> What is a Fresco? Brief history.
> 
> 2. Panel Construction:
> 
> Practical example.
> 
> 3. Cartoon:
> 
> Design and drawing: Sketch
> Rete or Graticola: Metric scale
> About Sinopia
> 
> 4. Pigments:
> 
> Suitable pigments: Reactions to light and lime.
> Chemical reactions between minerals.
> Color recipes: Verdaccio, Cinnabrese and Bianco San Giovanni.
> Grinding: How to handle colors? Making your paint. Practical example
> 
> 5. Plaster:
> 
> About lime: slaking process.
> Plaster recipes for walls: Trullisatio, Arricio and Intonaco.
> Plastering: Applying Intonaco over panels. Practical example.
> 
> 6. Pouncing: 
> 
> Transposing our drawings.
> 
> 7. Painting:
> 
> Consistency of paint to be used. Practical example.
> 
> 8. Final explanations.
> 
> 
> PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET
> 
> Seminar location:
> The Foundry
> 1712 Burnett Street 
> Houston, Texas 77026
> 
> Seminar date, time:
> 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
> Saturday, May 28, 2005
> 
> Lunch, snacks:
> Participants should bring food as the Foundry is located in an industrial area without easy
> access to restaurants on weekends. HWCA will supply bottled water. Refrigeration is available. 
> 
> Reservations:
> To ensure sufficient supplies for all participants, reservations for this seminar are required.
> HWCA will accept reservations until May 21. 
> 
> To secure your place at the seminar, visit www.artwomenhouston.org or email
> kidbobo2001 at yahoo.com.
> 
> 
> HWCA Chief Art Instigator
> The Foundry, Studio G-1
> 1712 Burnett Street
> Houston, Texas 77026
> 
> Many thanks.
>