From:
Bill Marsh <bmarsh54@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>
Date:
Tue, 27 Jul 2004 15:18:18 -0400
Subject:
Spray acrylic on soft stone
Jeff Thruston wrote:
Quoted text begins.When working with softer stone such as alabaster. Do you guys recommend
finishing the piece with a clear spray acrylic? In some ways it seems
like a cheat to get a finished look on a piece.
End of quote.
Jeff,
I'm in Blacksburg, so a big shout out to a fellow VA carver.
Your question really has nothing to do with "cheating," which I don't
think exists in this regard as there really are no rules in art. It's
more a matter of personal preference.
I usually use a paste wax called Butcher's (can be had from Montoya) on
alabaster, except white stone. I prefer the "natural" looking shine
produced by a finely sanded piece using 1500 or smaller grit paper, with
a couple of thin layers of wax over it to bump up the color. On
alabaster, this makes a shine that is definitely not a wet-look mirror
surface, depending on the stone, but it gets close. I find that even
with paste wax, it is easy to get to a point with several coats where
one is no longer shining the stone, but shining the wax. This is an
effect I try to avoid, as to me it looks "fake" (whatever tha means).
I've even named the look "candy shine" because the stone's surface is
obviously hidden under a layer of some sort of coating. Whether or not
the average viewer notices this is debatable, but I do and it bothers me.
I've not tried acrylic coatings on alabaster, and have pretty much
decided that the I'd rather trade whatever scratch resistance that might
be gained for the kind of surface treatment that pleases me. It's a
risk, especially if your piece is in the hands of a gallery which is
constantly handling the piece. To me it's worth it, but that's a choice
you'll have to make for yourself, of course.
Hope this helps.
Bill Marsh
- Follow-ups
- message 00339: Spray acrylic on soft stone - John VanCamp (28 Jul 2004)
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- message 00330: Spray acrylic on soft stone - Jeff Thruston (27 Jul 2004)
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