Rachael Padilla

Gilded Opossum Skull

Added 2024-01-19 22:45:22 +0000 UTC

An update on the progress of this opossum skull before I take it to further steps.

As it turns out, gold leafing presents some challenges (or perhaps, it is my inexperience with the medium). It doesn't always cling as well as I think it should and has a tendency to flake off in little bits and pieces. However, there is something really lovely to the texture that is created with bits of flaking gold. There is a beautiful contrast also in the colors. The aged bones next to the shiny gold. I had thought initially that I would leaf the teeth as well but as I saw the contrast between the the skull and the teeth I liked that the teeth were not gilded.

I'm looking forward to sharing more of this progress as it comes along. Sculpture is not something I do often but I have Ideas and aspirations for more to come.