1803 The Green Man’s Covert
Artist Code: 1803. The Green Man’s Covert (Golden Hind, Silver Unicorn, Green Dragon Illumination). Gifted. Completed 15 August 2018. ORIGINAL – water colour, raised 24ct gold leaf on gesso base, silver leaf and 23ct shell gold. Paper size 14″ x 20″ Aquarelle Arches hot pressed 100% cotton rag 140lbs. Prints available. Handmade light oak frame 27″ x 21″. Gifted to a member of my family.
The Green Man’s Covert was painted specially for an exhibition section entitled “Nature’s Myths and Legends“ – part of the exhibition held by Southern Nature Art group. It was a tentative feeling whilst preparing the gesso base for some raised gold and silver leaf on this artwork but I made good progress, without any mistakes. (I had the intrepid feeling that as I needed this painting to go right first time (because of the tight timescale) that it would go wrong!) But I managed to complete it and it was exhibited at Southern Nature in Art, Rookesbury Park, August Bank Holiday 2018. The whole picture is a made-up fantasy illumination. There is raised 24ct gold and silver leaf as well as 23ct shell gold – which is real gold mixed with water and gum arabic so that it can be painted finely onto the paper—the rest is water colour. It is the story of the green man’s sadness at his creatures not getting on together. The Golden Hind with her beautiful golden coat has been captured by the Green Dragon. The Silver Unicorn is fighting for the hind’s freedom, and the frightened bunnies are bolting to their safe burrow.
