The Fresco Process

Fresco is one of the oldest forms of painting and playing a crucial role in the development of humanity’s artistic expression. The process utilizes a reaction between mineral-based pigments and intonaco (a cement-like lime/sand mixture). Once the intonaco is spread smooth, the artist has a small window of time to paint onto the wet wall before it dries. Mistakes are very hard to cover and the whole painting is done in one sitting. This aspect challenges the very idea of perfection because the nature of the medium demands compromise.

Everything I know about Fresco I’ve learned from my father. Our process involves a transfer where the painting is made onto a concrete wall before being ripped off and glued to a canvas. The beauty of this transfer exists in the unpredictability of removing the painting, as some of the work is always lost, while characteristics of the wall become part of the canvas. This allows piece to take on its own character beyond the artists control.