Gilded bones and artist research

I've used gold leaf in my Newstead project and I'm using it again here. It's a medium I feel drawn to especially for projects with themes of history/ religion and / or wealth.

In this project I've tried a sample on some of the cotton fabric I've been using and I really like the worn effect. It's a lot less controllable on fabric as the movement in it causes it to crease and flake off more giving a wonderful effect that us both bright and aged. Reminds me of a countries on a map or something more fluid but indefinable in shape.

Secondly I'm trialing gilding the tiny bird bones me and my son found.

It works really well. I feel there are lots of possibilities with the gold leaf. I'm currently using it in quite a simplistic way, just plain glue and brush off technique. I know there are better more specific products for gilding to create a longer lasting finish which is something I need to think about for future works. The works I'm making now are just short term for the exhibition. But if this is a medium I want to take further I need to consider this.

The gilded bird bones will be displayed within my installation/ sacred space as an alter piece, a relic.

Traditionally a relic is an object associated with a saint/ holy person, often physical remains hair, blood, bones etc. these artifacts are highly treasured and believed to hold the power to perform miracles.

relics are popular within many religions.

my relic is making special these found bird remains, natural magic, femininity, freedom.

Note; tipping the bones into one open palm to another , they make a light tinkling sound, its really nice.

I'm my last project I looked into "Rouge Taxidermy "artist Serina Brewer and I'm just going to give her another quick mention as she was definitely on my mind when I thought of gilding these bones.