The Pyramid Project

The Pyramid's Art

David Hewson in Iquitos

The Process

Watergilding is an ancient technique that can be traced back to the Egyptians.  Some of the earliest surviving pieces are from 4,500 years ago.  I specialized in the technique from masters in Italy and Switzerland through restoring churches and paintings -  A very rich effect that has no short cuts.  Below is a sequence of the process from beginning to end

After gilding there is a "golden moment" for burnishing.  Burnishing is a process of making part of the gold/platinum brilliant or shiny like a mirror, by using an agate stone.  Above is a photo of me burnishing

The initial drawing of Julio is the basis of my work so I can figure out where and what will be gilded

Julio prepared a drawing that captured the sacred geometry of his pyramid and in the stage above this was combined with the edges of the sketch such that the composition of the piece could be explored on the gessoed, prepared wood

Making some adjustments and adding some other Egyptian and Celtic symbolism, the background is now ready to be etched with a fine tool

After the panel is carved out it is now time to apply the bol (a very fine clay of various colours added with rabbit or fish glue)

The piece is then gilded and I determine which parts to burnish

Then I remove the gold in certain areas

Then I paint the grisaille base

Refining the Grisaille base

Yellow glaze

Refining

Red Glaze

Refining

Refining till completion