Gilded Lilies

Artwork details: gouache and pencil, with gold leaf in various colours, 16.5 x 11 inches (42 x 28 cm), 2011.

This is one of those (for me) rare compositions in which the composition became a story in itself. Do not look for a plot behind the painting - the movement of one figure to another is the plot in itself. The title, similarly enigmatic, adds a gleam without, philosophically speaking, shining any light on the subject... I re-worked the composition as an etching as well - a piece with a very different atmosphere about it that I called Dancing Fates.

'Gilded Lilies' - painting by Nancy Farmer

The 'gilding' of this lily, by the way, took quite some time. There are four colours of gold leaf on the background - pure, 24 carat gold is the yellow one, then there is also green gold, red gold and one with a purple tinge called 'moon' gold. All these were applied as gold leaf in triangles and squares completely covering the background. After that a certain 'distressed' effect was achieved by very thin washes of watercolour with a little Gum Arabic so that it stuck to the gold. Then I washed a little off, a little added again to get that random, mottled surface. Finally, I felt it needed just a little more sparkle and re-applied some more leaf sparingly, so that what built up was a very organic, multi-layered surface, some of which was allowed to partially obscure the figures. The final details were worked up in pencil, so as not to disturb the carefully preserved layers of paint. In all, a development of several techniques came together in a way I haven't used before, but shall be using in the future...

'Gilded Lilies' - close-up 2 'Gilded Lilies' - close-up 3 'Gilded Lilies' - close-up 4 'Gilded Lilies' - close-up 5

All images and prints are © Nancy Farmer. Please email me if you wish to reproduce any of these images, or see my permissions page in the 'info' section.

Original

Title: Gilded Lilies
Media: gouache and pencil, with gold leaf in various colours,
Image size: 16.5 x 11 inches (42 x 28 cm),
Frame: framed with glass in front
Available from the 303 Gallery for £ 1950.00
tel: 01935 825891

For information on buying originals from this site please see my purchase information page.

Prints

Open edition, signed prints are available for this image.

Open edition prints:

price paper size aproximate image size buy other info
£7.50 A5 7.5 x 5 inch / 19 x 13 cm
£15.00 A4 11 x 7.3 inch / 28 x 19 cm
£29.00 A3+ 16.5 x 11 inch / 42 x 28 cm

Discount for multiple purchase:

I offer a discount on several open edition prints bought at once (they do not have to be the same image). Using the buttons below you can order 4 prints at once. Please list the titles of the prints in the text field below before clicking the 'Buy Me' button. Please note - the prices below do not include the few images which are available only as limited editions. A list of these is in the limited edition section of the prints page in the shop. If you would rather email me instead I am happy to complete orders personally.

total price description buy other info
£24 4 x A5 open edition prints
(£6.00 each)

Does not include
limited editions
£48 4 x A4 open edition prints
(£12.00 each)

Does not include
limited editions
£92 4 x A3+ open edition prints
(£23.00 each)

Does not include
limited editions

Buying from this site:

I have a shopping cart which will allow you to purchase prints, cards, etc, and some small original pieces. Where no shopping cart button is shown (or if you'd just like more information) please contact me. You can use a variety of methods to pay for things through the website, including credit card, paypal, and by cheque. For more information please see my Purchase Information page.

Prints:

Open edition, signed prints are available for this image. Click here for more info, or scroll to the bottom of this page.

Original:

Available from the 303 Gallery for £ 1950.00
tel: 01935 825891.
Click here for more info, or scroll to the bottom of this page.