'Muscaru - Grape Hyacinth'  30 x 10cm. Bas releif botanical handmade with grey Ciment Fondu and painted with Jenolite cast bronze.
The process of botanical bas-relief is an ancient method used by botanists to record the finest details of plant species. Real flowers are carefully arranged onto a piece of flat clay, and pressed in to make a 'negative' relief. When the flowers are carefully removed and any seeds picked out, they leave behing their unique impression. The clay is used to create a mould and a strong plaster of paris (Crysacal R) is poured into that mold to create this unique art form of delecate, detailed botanicals.
From this original master a silicone mould can be made which is used to make a limited number of concrete casts. The new ciment fondu looks black/bronze and is finished by lightly polishing with Lavender marble wax. This botanical panel can be displayed indoors or outside.After several months of weathering outside the cast will develop it's own unique patina.