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| The wall section was so complex it was too difficult to draw easily, so I made paper models. There were several versions before I found a combination I liked. The bamboo skewers represent the sun rays that will be part of the sculpture but installed later. |
I decided on the wood representing air. I am using untempered masonite. The first thing is to cut irregular shapes between 4 and 6 inches wide and 2 to 3 feet long. I use a router freehand which enables me to make radom cuts. |
Even though this is untempered masonite, without the heat resin treatment, there is a hard shiny surface which I "sand" off using a metal grinding disk. This seems to work better than real sand paper. |
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| The edges of the shapes are rounded over on a spindle sander. This is a drum that rotates and moves up and down at the same time. |
I soak the wood shapes in water with thinned PVA in it. PVA is a sealer for drywall. The pieces have to soak overnight and then dry in curve shapes, held down with clamps as shown for about 12 more hours. |
After the peices are completely dry two coats of unthinned PVA are applied. Soaking the panel opens up the grain and the PVA penetrates better. This seals the panel from moisture and makes it dimensionally stable. |
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| I made a special rack for drying the shapes so they wouldn't loose their shape until both coats of PVA had been applied. |
After the PVA is dry, a coat of artist quality gesso is applied to the front surface only. The panel has expanded and has a texture very much like water color paper and this is the result I have been looking for. I am using artist oils, thinned with medium and solvent and paint it on as a wash with brush strokes an gestures showing prominently.
The panels are ready for assembly.
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