Wild Thistle - Cast Paper
Width: 10 inches
"Wild Thistle" in Cast Paper
"Wild Thistle" is an exquisite hand-painted cast paper art piece encapsulating the untamed beauty of nature. Delicately crafted, this artwork features a striking depiction of a wild thistle, its intricate details and vibrant hues bringing it to life on a 10" round canvas. The artwork is further enhanced by a meticulously designed Celtic frame, 3D printed by the artist and hand-painted to complement the ethereal essence of the thistle. With its fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design, "Wild Thistle" captures the essence of the natural world in a captivating and timeless form.
The Keepsake Story
Legend has it that in the 9th century when the Norse were often raiding Scotland, a group of Vikings tried to sneak up on a group of sleeping Clansmen. They had removed their shoes to creep quietly but stepped on thistles and cried out in pain. The alerted Scots made them pay.
I include this story on the back of the piece along with a small infographic of the Cast Paper process.
Paper Casting
Paper casting is to me the perfect medium. It allows me to use almost every skill set. A typical piece begins as a drawing or two. Then I sculpt it in wax. This is a long refining process and often the image sculpted is far different from the drawing. Then I build a dam around the wax and pour a rubber mold directly off the surface. A casting is made by pressing the wet cotton pulp into the mold and extracting the water. Then I finish the surface.
While every piece that emerges from the mold is about the same, no two are painted the same. Maybe I would if I could, but the painting process is always in flux. I am always experimenting with ways of mixing colors or washes and hard edges or new pigments. I spend about 75% of my time with the painted finishes. Click here to see the process.
