About the service
I paint boxes in the spirit of the old lacquer miniature, and I want to be plain about it from the first line: this is my own authored work after that tradition, not an item of a historic craft centre and not a copy of anyone else composition. I put no craft-centre stamps on what leaves my table, and I never reproduce another painter miniature. The subject is built for you and stays yours.
Work begins with the blank, papier-mache or seasoned wood. I sand it through several grits until the surface is flat enough to read a reflection on it, then lay the black lacquer ground and let it cure properly. The drawing is transferred, and the painting is raised in egg tempera, thin layer over thin layer: transparent glazes give depth, light overpainting models the form, and at the end come the fine strokes and the white highlights that bring faces, folds and foliage alive. Shell gold goes on last inside the picture, then along the rim as ornament, drawn with a fine brush and burnished with a tooth.
After the painting there are several coats of clear finishing lacquer with sanding between them, and finally polishing to a mirror. The subject can be a fairy tale, a season, a bird, or your own story: a house, a wedding, a journey. A dedication can be written inside the lid. Please plan in weeks rather than days, because drying sets the schedule and nothing can be hurried; I send photographs at every stage so you see the box grow.
— Blank of papier-mache or wood, sanded flat and grounded in black lacquer
— Drawing transferred and agreed with you before the painting starts
— Egg tempera in thin layers, glazes, light overpainting, fine strokes and highlights
— Shell gold in the composition and a gold ornament along the rim
— Dedication inside the lid on request
— Several coats of finishing lacquer, sanding between coats, polish to a mirror
— Progress photographs at each stage of the work
— Author work after the tradition, no craft stamps, no copies of other miniatures
— Safety: lacquer and solvents are used with ventilation and away from any open flame
— Care: the finished box dislikes heat and direct sun; wipe it with a soft dry cloth, never with alcohol
Work begins with the blank, papier-mache or seasoned wood. I sand it through several grits until the surface is flat enough to read a reflection on it, then lay the black lacquer ground and let it cure properly. The drawing is transferred, and the painting is raised in egg tempera, thin layer over thin layer: transparent glazes give depth, light overpainting models the form, and at the end come the fine strokes and the white highlights that bring faces, folds and foliage alive. Shell gold goes on last inside the picture, then along the rim as ornament, drawn with a fine brush and burnished with a tooth.
After the painting there are several coats of clear finishing lacquer with sanding between them, and finally polishing to a mirror. The subject can be a fairy tale, a season, a bird, or your own story: a house, a wedding, a journey. A dedication can be written inside the lid. Please plan in weeks rather than days, because drying sets the schedule and nothing can be hurried; I send photographs at every stage so you see the box grow.
— Blank of papier-mache or wood, sanded flat and grounded in black lacquer
— Drawing transferred and agreed with you before the painting starts
— Egg tempera in thin layers, glazes, light overpainting, fine strokes and highlights
— Shell gold in the composition and a gold ornament along the rim
— Dedication inside the lid on request
— Several coats of finishing lacquer, sanding between coats, polish to a mirror
— Progress photographs at each stage of the work
— Author work after the tradition, no craft stamps, no copies of other miniatures
— Safety: lacquer and solvents are used with ventilation and away from any open flame
— Care: the finished box dislikes heat and direct sun; wipe it with a soft dry cloth, never with alcohol
