Julie Donec

Mona Lisa #1

This was done by laying a sheet of acetate over a colour photocopy , and tracing over the image with a permanent fine point marker. I'd mentioned 'registering' your image before you begin to transfer it, and this is done by taping down the colour copy, and lightly taping the acetate on top, leaving a small border between the colour copy and acetate. Then draw a line off the acetate onto the colour copy - marking it on one side of the image, and repeating the procedure on the other. If the image slips, simply line up the marks, and you have the acetate in the original position. The result is a line drawing that can be enlarged/reduced to the size required. Once you have your image, turn it over, so it's lying face down, on a sheet of pure white/light coloured paper the same size. This will help you see where the lines are. Simply rub over the lines with your piece of conte - then turn it over and place on the support of your choice. Lightly tape it to the support, and begin to transfer, using a fine point metal ball marker pen that is a different colour other than black. (Black on black line is hard to see where you've been; use a red marker and go a little over the line you are tranfering, and you'll always be able to tell where you have traced). The board used for this piece is hardboard (sometimes known by it's brandname 'Masonite'), covered with 5 coats of homemade gesso. Usually I put more on (around 8-10), but I was a little short, and didn't have time to mix up a new batch. I did the drawing on board to get that lovely smooth finish; the original is done on gessoed oak or poplar panel- depending on which source you take your info from.