In 2004 a wonderful Mexican craftsman taught me the application of “diamond trowel plaster”. It is a peach colored plaster that has tone variations and is applied to interior walls over the adobe block construction using water and trowels. This technique is common in the southwest. The process of applying the plaster with trowels and water led me to search for a plaster surface that would take watercolor pigment. Frescoes play a big roll in art history but I hadn’t met an artist working in the media. Fresco secco is the term used for painting on a cured plaster surface, and after a bit of research, I found that there are a few artists still working in this ancient process.

My first step was to find a plaster or clay that was pH balanced. I found kaolin clay which is known for its ph balance and superior archival properties. When googling a supplier of this product, I discovered Ampersand. They were producing art panels with a kaolin clay surface. Their construction and craftsmanship impressed me and I decided that I would have this company produce my art surfaces. 

My process of application is very similar to egg tempera; I use small controlled strokes of overlapping colors to create depth while letting the white clay surface illuminate through the pigment. These small strokes of color are built upon a wet plaster surface. Once the painting is fully dry I seal the work with an archival UV protector.