[angel]

Hello all,
I'm trying to achieve this sort of a look (see attached picture) -- It's that old Renaissance style of painting used on religious wood figurines, santos, angels etc. Has anyone done this type of painting? I'm thinking it's gesso with oil paint and some type of glossy varnish. I need some advice or a reference book to help me along here. Any advice greatly appreciated -- Angel

[AlArchie]

A lot of the old religious paintings done in the chapels were what is called "fresco" and involves painting on wet plaster with natural mineral powders. Some of this technique was also used on statuary, but I believe most was simply done with oils, and a lot of the effect you are looking for is due to the age of the work itself. You could probably duplicate this by careful mixing of either oil or acrylics to match the look you arte trying to achieve.
Here is a site that covers the fresco techniqe quite well. You may be able to glean some information on specific colors and pigments used in the process.
http://www.fresco-techniques.com/buon-fresco.html

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

It isn't really the kind of paint as much as it is the technique.......you need to be able to soft blend your paint to get that effect. You can do it with oils easily and even with acrylics if you use their drying retardent....in a wet piece of wood, it is easier to blend but then, to imitate what you have posted you wouldn't want a wash type finish so back to #1 and #2 LOL

[AlArchie]

Hey, Dave, have we hit the Vulcan mind meld AGAIN?

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Yes! We have, may the Farce be with you!

[Thor]

Some other mediums that were used and are now referred to as 'polychrome' finishes were egg tempera over gesso or gouache over gesso, then varnished.
options to try....
Thor

[angel]

A belated thank you (I've been away)-you guys have given me some good jumping off points to research further. Angel

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

For a gloss finish, I just use "Deft" gloss hummm actually that isn't right, I use the Deft satin and sometimes semi-gloss but use Krylon Krystal Klear polyurathane for the gloss.....both dry very fast. and the poly will go over the Deft when it dries....I sometimes use a spray of the Deft to seal then "poly" it.

[MelNM]

Hi Angel
You mentioned Santos, I know that a lot of the Santeros use natural pigments, pine pitch and gesso for their carvings. Here's a link to a Santo's site, you might be able to find something there.
Mel
http://www.nmsantos.com/

[Spookhouse]

Being a history major i stare at medieval statues close to 3 or 4 hours a day. Your style is very close to late middle age gothic. I'd say you've done a pretty good job at it. I don't think you want it to look romanesque since your proportions and symmetry are correct with that of a life like medieval era woman. So you are have done a great job carving and painting in a late medieval gothic and perhaps early renassance style.