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THE CRAFTING OF THE PANELS Preparing the Surface: Ms. Parun has revived the lost art of the gilded finish. Beginning with a 12” x12” square birch panel. In the Italian gilding tradition, a Ms. Parun placed fine muslin over the wood. After she mixed and cooked the gesso it was laid over the muslin and wood layer by layer until 14 layers had been laid. Each layer was allowed to dry before the next one was laid over it. After the gessoing was complete, two more layers of finer gesso were laid over and the panel was put aside to dry for several weeks it was very hard. Next the gesso surface had to be scraped and sanded until the painting surface was perfectly flat, even and smooth. After the artist created the drawing for the panel she carefully incised it into the hard gesso with a finely sharpened chisel. Now the panel was ready for gilding. Gilding: In the gilding tradition Water-Gilding is the finest quality gilded finish. It creates the most brilliant mirror image possible. Parun performs the craft of gilding in the same manner as it has been performed for over 3,000 years. In the Italian gilding tradition, a red clay called “bole” was prepared by cooking it for a specified time laid over the white gesso surface thus preparing the gesso to receive the gold leaf. The bole was then polished with an agate burnisher. Three layers of 23 k gold leaf were then laid layer by layer and burnished to a very high finish. Next the oil painting was done over the gesso in the areas her design required. The frame was designed, milled and crafted in New Orleans by Ms. Parun with the same excellence of craftsmanship, as was the panel. She made the gesso, laid 10 layers on the wood, let it dry, scraped it smooth, incised her drawing into the frame panel, applied the red bole, and gilded it with 23 k gold leaf in the same traditional way as she did for the panel. Ms. Parun elected a bright gold finish for this frame. THE PANELS Traditional Panel Painting is a very beautiful art that has been lost to the comporary world which Ms. Parun has elected to revive. Gilding panel making was practiced in Europe in 16th and 17th century by Giotto and Cellini. Traditional panel making is a combination of goldsmithing, bas relief, painting and sculpture. It is a medieval art rarely seen outside of gothic Cathedrals of Europe. Phyllis Parun has distinguished herself for her fine gilding craftsmanship which is her forte. Phyllis Parun’s figurative works is known for transforming the gilder’s art into a fresh, new contemporary art form. The artist made only eight of gilded panel series between 1984 and 1985 and four sold to exclusive private collections.