Claire Burke

http://www.claireburke.co.uk

Studio: 288

Claire sources bespoke HDF panels from Alan Fitzpatrick, they are made to an extremely high standard to her exact specifications.

The work begins with a layer of Bole, his is a clay based product traditionally used under gilding to provide a tint to the extremely thin silver leaf, once the Bole has been applied and has dried gilding can begin. A traditional oil based gold size is applied to the surface of the panel, once the size has been left for the appropriate amount of time the leaf is applied. Depending on the amount of drying time allowed the leaf adheres to the surface in different ways.

Claire may then either tint the leaf with an oil glaze; apply a layer of cracking products, or a layer of gilding wax. The process continues with the addition of an overlapping neighbouring surface of leaf treated in much the same way. The work progresses with further layers, and even possibly the removal of a layer of leaf or the partial occlusion of a layer by another.

Once the piece is nearing its completion a layer of varnish is applied to protect the surface, the varnish also adds some warmth and colour to the resulting piece. The final step may be to emphasize the surface texture with more gilding wax used as a surface polish.

The pieces are process led in that the artist has to react to the preceding surface and make decisions on any changes or developments based on what has occurred before hand. This makes the pieces absolutely unique and unpredictable to an extent. Control over the works is mainly derived from choices about whether or not to retain or delete surfaces or textures rather than deliberately pre planning the work.