Megillat Esther, Islamic inspired designs, 3

I just completed another illumination for the megillah, again based on Islamic designs, altho this one is rectangular, not triangular like the previous two that I posted here in recent months.

A note on materials:
For the illuminations we use commercial archival paper, neutral pH, minimal size (sealer) so I lightly seal it with acrylic. I build up the ground for the gold with a modified gesso, then lay 24k gold leaf (from Swift). Then lay in the color, using QOR watercolors.

Here’s a slideshow of the latest work. All these illuminations are about 2”x3”.

Gold ground

Gold ground, raking light to check surface

Goldwork done

Goldwork, closeup

Colorwork 1

Colorwork 2

Colorwork 3a

Colorwork 3b

Colorwork 3c, more or less complete