The wall of our new shed was too large and too
white. The idea to paint something on it was Dana's.
My first design (enlarged lichens and liverworts) did not make it.
Neither did the second and third. I originally intended
to draw silhouettes using two or only a few colours using modern wall paints.
Dana approved of my fourth design, but on second
thought it seemed both too complicated and not good enough to me. On the left
a Dutch meadow with bar-tailed godwit, gradually changing into a wild swamp
forest on the right.
At this moment my inspiration had dried up for a
year. But then I remembered this old house not far from us where chickens used
to walk around and climb the pear tree that filled the whole court and on
whose branches cats would take a nap on warm summer days.
This led to the fifth, final design.
I collected pictures that could serve as an example. On
the right our neighbour's cat Mateš.
I also made studies of details. I started with the sparrows.
More studies.
I sketched the outlines with pencil and painted with
paint made from water with 3 procent Sokrat and mineral pigments.
Some pigments caused problems. The red of this rooster
paled and had to be repainted with another pigment.
And so the painting grew step by step. The reactions
of passer-bies were encouraging. Almost all made a chat when they saw me
working and praised the result. I would even overhear mothers talking to
their children about whatever animal had appeared last.
In total the work lasted from August 15th till November
2nd (2014).
This is what our house looks like now. On the right a
study for leaves. Maybe I'll add a few herbs and a little bird this spring,
but the original design has been completed.
And so the painting grew step by step. The reactions
of passer-bies were encouraging. Almost all made a chat when they saw me
working and praised the result. I would even overhear mothers talking to
their children about whatever animal had appeared last.
