Artgx

Over the last few years miniature painting has gained new interest, partly down to the increased curiosity in calligraphy. Calligraphy itself is linked to book illumination, a forerunner of miniature painting techniques. Miniature painting became popular during the 17th century as a technique for producing portraits of loved ones, enabling the owner to take their likeness around with them. As miniature painting demands great detail on a small scale, the type of support used is very important to enable the delicate brushwork required to produce the best effect. One of the first types of support used was vellum. Traditional vellum is made from calf-skin, whilst this can still be found, but is hard to come by. It is much easier to use watercolour paper, but this has to be treated in the right way to get a surface good enough for the painting process.

The best type to use is a hot pressed watercolour paper, this is prepared in the same way as you would prepare the vellum. The paper needs to be smooth, and the finer the surface the better. A medium weight paper will be OK as this can be mounted onto a heavier weight watercolour paper, museum quality board or acid-free illustration board using a weak freshly made gelatine size. Use a roller to ensure that no air pockets are left between the layers.

Once mounted, vellum was traditionally burnished to give it an immaculate, ivory-like finish. Watercolour paper though, can also be burnished, but with modern papers it is much better to use a hot iron. This should be taken across the paper quickly, whilst a light pressure is applied. Even the best hot-pressed paper can gain from this procedure, producing a yet smoother finish. Good cotton papers can be slightly fibrous and ironing helps compact the surface. This all will help create the finest surface possible for the delicate painting required for miniature painting.

Another type of support suitable for miniature painting is gessoed card. Once again, museum quality or acid free card needs to be used and the gesso applied carefully to avoid brush marks and lumps forming. A minimum of three layers should be applied to both sides of the card, the painting surface can also be lightly sanded to create a smooth finish.