Cantiga
- fabric dyes, encaustic, inks, gold & silver leaf, pearls, back-lit, handmade paper
- 18 x 14 in
- Cheryl Chidester
This artwork was influenced by the many medieval manuscripts and decorative arts objects I appreciated in European museums and by the sound of the time period's music. (A Cantiga is a type of medieval song.)
The process to create this piece was quite labor-intensive. The handmade paper was first dyed the gold background color while blocking out some areas with wax. The wax was removed, and other dye colors were painted on those areas. The entire piece was then covered with wax, crinkled, and cracked, then covered with black ink. After it was dry, the wax was ironed off and revealed the look of a worn manuscript. The addition of encaustic paint (wax paint) gave the art dimension and depth and enhanced the "glow" of the work. Gold and silver leaf and paint and the additional a few small pearls help to convey the influence of medieval manuscripts and the feeling of something precious and cherished. Shapes and colors were accentuated by outlining them with ink.
Because I wanted to enhance the idea of the piece "glowing", I decided to frame it with back-lighting. Using conservation materials, I constructed a shallow shadow box, raised and float-mounted the art and placed battery-operated "fairy lights" behind it.
- Framed: 21 x 17 x 1.5 in
- Subject Matter: manuscripts & stain glass