During the COVID lockdowns I adopted many office plants that where abandoned to a dire fate. I happily painted a bunch of them - and ultimately kept some of them as I fell in love with them. This Pilea (or Chinese Money Plant) in warm deep yellow, green and purple is one of them. Keep it close to your heart.
I make my own paint, in this case egg tempera, also called tempera. Tempera is made from egg yolk and pigments and is extremely durable. It has a soft satin shine which I love. I use natural chalk and animal glue to make my own gesso. Gesso is the underlayer which I apply to the panel before painting it. The process of tempera painting on gesso on a wooden panel dates back to before medieval times. It allows for light to be reflected from the white gesso, wich makes a painting seem to light up from within.
Pilea Peperomioides (from the series My Lockdown Plants)
H 21.0 cm x W 14.0 cm D 2.2 cm
Original artwork painted with tempera on gessoed wood board. Tempera is a very strong paint that wil stand the test of time, as medieval icons prove. The art needs no care other than dusting with a soft lint-free cloth every once in a while. Signed on the back. This image is ready to hang as its borders are painted as well. Alternatively, you can have it framed somewhere near you (it comes unframed). Be aware that colors may differ slightly in reality as all monitors differ.