fresco

By fresco painting, we mean painting straight onto wet plaster

Today?s murals are seldom frescos in the classical sense of the word. Traditionally frescos are painted using pigments dissolved in water and applied to wet plaster.

It is one of the oldest mural techniques and was used ? even in antiquity - by the most famous painters. Many of the old masters, such as Tizian and Tiepolo, were able to paint huge works with a monumental colour impact, largely thanks to the fresco technique.

The water evaporates and at the same time the chalk takes up carbon dioxide carbonic acid out of the air thereby building calcium carbonate. A glassy, marbled skin, made out of crystallized carbonated chalk, forms on the surface of the painting and combines insolubly with the underground. This is what gives a true fresco its characteristic fine shimmer.

More than with any other painting technique, a good basic skill at the craft essential. It is only possible to work on a fresco during a frost-free time of year and the 6 weeks following completion must also a dry, frost-free period. Frost generally causes paint and plaster to fall off rapidly.

 The fresco technique is much more capable of diversity than generally thought and is not only suitable for antiquated styles of work.

 Few artists take advantage of its potentials which allow undreamed-of scope in strength of colour and treatment of modern-day subject matter; particularly onto coloured walls.