24 CARAT GOLD, SILVER & PALLADIUM LEAF PAINTING SERIES
Throughout recorded history gold has been regarded as a symbol of wealth, beauty and prestige, used for high value coins, jewellery, decoration and the arts. Amongst fine 24 carat gold’s particular properties is its malleability, meaning it can be beaten into very thin sheets, forming gold leaf.
Below the images is a description of my journey of discovery of painting on 24 carat gold, silver and palladium leaf.
‘Free Spirit’ – Oil on 24 carat gold leaf and palladium leaf on Poplar Panel. Figurative oil painting. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
Original oil painting on 24 carat gold leaf and palladium leaf on poplar wood panel. Featuring girl playing flute. Her flute music filters through her tapping toes and through the roots and filaments it filters down through the earth to the world below her. Nestled within the microcosm are golden eggs nurtured in the hollows beneath the earth. The painting style is a fusion of realism, surrealism, symbolism and impressionism.
‘The Gift’ – Oil on 24 Carat Gold Leaf and Palladium Leaf on Poplar Panel. Figurative oil painting. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
Original oil painting on 24 carat gold leaf and palladium leaf on poplar wood panel. Featuring girl playing her tin whistle – sometimes called a pennywhistle. The tiny roots and filaments carry her music down through the earth to the world below her. The kingfisher carries a gift of ivy vine entwined with golden music and music symbols – a gift to the young woman who plays her music to nature. Secondary focus is brought to the kingfisher’s golden eggs by the flow of the ivy vine. The golden eggs lay nestled in the clay earth bank. The painting style is a fusion of realism, surrealism, symbolism and impressionism.
‘Last Leaf’ – Oil on 24 Carat Gold Leaf and Palladium Leaf on Poplar panel. The last remaining leaf as winter takes hold over the birch tree stand. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
Original oil painting on 24 carat gold leaf and palladium leaf on poplar wood panel. Featuring just one last stoical leaf remains as the winter snows cover the ground. The moonlight casts long shadows on the ground drawing us within. The shared protection of the stand symbolizes strength and unity for all. The painting style is a fusion of realism, surrealism, symbolism and impressionism
‘Summer’ – Oil on 24 Carat Gold Leaf on Poplar Board. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
Original oil painting on 24 carat gold leaf on poplar wood panel. A garland of pink and cream roses crown her head – a celebration of summer. The painting style is a fusion of realism, surrealism, symbolism and impressionism. Rose: The Eden Rose – aka ‘Pierre de Ronsard’
‘Tempus Fugit’ (Time Flies) – Oil on palladium leaf on poplar wood panel. Miniature painting. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
Tempus Fugit encapsulates my enduring fascination with the passing of time. The fob-watch swings as a pendulum – to and fro – irrespective of the fantail’s futile attempt to slow the progression of time. Will the last thread of the fraying twine unravel before we open the doors of the gilded icon frame so she can discover the freedom to fly with the beat of her own wings?
‘Beyond the Mist’ – Oil on 24 carat gold leaf and palladium leaf on poplar wood panel. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
The well-trodden path is obscured by swirling mist, making the way forward less apparent. There is hesitation and a moment of uncertainty. She looks to us for guidance. What would we say to her? “It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before… to test your limits… to break through barriers…” Anaïs Nin
‘Free Spirit Pre-study’ – Oil on 24 carat gold leaf and palladium leaf on Belgian Linen. © Susan Harrison-Tustain
A pre-study is an artwork in itself, generally smaller and less defined than the final master-work. My paintings all have a message; a reason for existing. These pre-studies are where the first merging of my message meets composition and artistic portrayal. It is where the excitement really begins.
‘The Gift Pre-study’ – Oil on 24 carat gold leaf and palladium leaf on Belgian Linen. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
A pre-study is an artwork in itself, generally smaller and less defined than the final master-work. My paintings all have a message; a reason for existing. These pre-studies are where the first merging of my message meets composition and artistic portrayal. It is where the excitement really begins.
‘Māhutonga’ (Southern Cross) – Oil on palladium leaf on poplar wood panel. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
Wairarapa Māori called the Southern Cross constellation Māhutonga – an aperture through which stormy winds escape. Māhutonga guided their ancestors’ waka to our shores. I gaze upwards and feel wonder at the vastness of the southern sky. Cabbage trees (Cordyline australis) are such a distinctive element of the New Zealand landscape I felt compelled to include them in my composition. Southern gales wrap the long hair-like ribbons of leaves around their heads and stretch out in front like wind socks pointing the way home.
‘Her Song’ – Oil on 24 Carat Gold Leaf on Poplar Panel. Figurative oil painting. © Susan Harrison-Tustain. SOLD
This is a tribute to the wonderful, universal language of music.This surrealist painting symbolizes the pureness and clarity of her notes as they flow from her violin – carrying with them the roses and Queen Anne’s Lace that have left the floral wallpaper and are carried along gently with her song….
A visit to the spectacular art-based multimedia ‘Carrières de Lumières’ show in Les Baux-de-Provence, France, inspired me to forge a new path on my artistic journey. The show was titled ‘Klimt and Vienna, a century of gold and colours’. It electrified my imagination and drove me to delve into a completely new way of creating my art. Painting in oil on 24 carat gold leaf, palladium leaf and silver leaf (known as the ‘noble metals’) provides a whole new set of challenges for an artist.
Months of research involving leading world experts in art conservation and materials has given me the knowledge and expertise to understand this ancient art and to ensure I use the very best materials and techniques to create my unique new art collection. The passion I have for painting on leafing is wonderfully challenging and incredibly exhilarating. Illuminated by ever-changing light throughout the day, the metallic leaf comes to life and brings a whole new dimension to my paintings.
Imagination and artistic vision add a twist to each piece. The more you look the more you will see. As I paint, combining elements of four painting styles (surrealism, symbolism, realism, impressionism), the work takes on a life of its own, allowing me to express the reason for the painting’s existence.
My ‘Free Spirit’ painting series will be unveiled at my October 2017 Exhibition.
Susan offers a select collection of fine art prints.
Click on the images below to view the other galleries of oil and watercolor paintings:
Enquire Now
For any questions and pricing please contact Susan using the contact form below.
Instructional Art DVD’s and Video Downloads
Click on any of the DVD images below to find more in-depth information on the contents of each of the DVDs and Video Downloads.
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DVD: Watercolor Masterclass Volume One: “Painting Life-Like Leaves and Vibrant Greens” – for all skill levels
US$54.50 -
One-on-One Watercolor Workshops with Susan Harrison-Tustain – for all skill levels
US$54.50 -
Painting Watercolor My Way with Susan Harrison-Tustain – for all skill levels
US$54.50 -
Watercolor Portrait Workshop with Susan Harrison-Tustain – for all skill levels
US$54.50