So, between getting all the details in place for my upcoming show, I have been painting a bit too:
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Cathedral
(I'm thinking finished)
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In the freight elevator at the studio, taking my larger paintings downstairs to be photographed. This is only some of the work! There was another load of about 40 small pieces.
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Among the larger pieces photographed was this one.
Then I varnished it.....
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...and look what happened. The top shiny part is good. The strange matte shapes at the bottom are not good.
Same varnish, same technique as with a number of other works I varnished that day, only this one went weird. No idea why.
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Close-up of nice varnish looking how it's supposed to look.
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Close-up of the weirdness.
Can I convey to you the extent of my consternation and disappointment?
I was in tears. Varnishing a week before the work goes out is cutting it a little close, but the gallery is here in town, so no long shipping of wrapped works. A week to cure is OK in this case.
But now here is - of course! - the largest work in the exhibition looking like some strange goo was spilled haphazardly on it.
So.
I removed the portions of varnish that went weird, following manufacturer's instructions. It went well enough, but a little paint did come off so I've had to re-paint some small bits. Now the work cannot be shown until it's dry, several weeks' time at least, and (shudder of apprehension) re-varnished.
Looks like this one will not be in my exhibition after all.
*sigh*