I’m working hard on a new collection of bitmaps called Wood Magic. Each, of course, needs testing. Many of the wood textures in the collection will also have companion bitmaps to enhance the woodgrain significantly. The name plaques are a great opportunity to test them.
The name plaques are mounted to a large board near the entrance to the shop to greet our workshop guests as they enter. The name plaques for our staff are also on display. The names on show help everyone (including me) more easily remember each person in the shop.
Nothing beats a skillful hand painter and Becke is one of the best I’ve seen. Handy with a brush, she can paint a lot of the small pieces in a short time. She uses a variety of rare techniques including blends, layered glazes, dry brush and gilding. All of the paints (save for the gold size) are water-based.
The plaques are a great opportunity to try out new ideas, new borders, shapes and new (to me) fonts. Often these are things I am considering for upcoming projects. Seeing them at this scale helps me immensely.
