Gouache Studies

These gouache paintings started as quick preparatory designs for scagliola tiles and panels, although in practice, when made into scagliola pieces, the surface patterns differ wildly from the original sketches. The process of manipulating the pigmented plaster mix is intentionally loose, uncontrolled and open-ended. Tacit knowledge and hands’ muscle-memory are in charge of decision-making, like in any craft, but here, rather than following a set traditional technique, I’m open to the randomness of what comes out in the process. I lay the plaster mix into a mould without knowing what exact stratifications come out until I sand down the surface. The result is irreproducible patterns of marbled formations. I later made some painted studies of the finished tiles with gouache on paper and used these paintings as design sketches again – starting points for new tiles, making up a series. Each iteration with its new aberrations.