A Little Bit About Cradled Panels...

Works on Cradled Panel a.k.a. glazed collage:
One of the three kinds of work I make are glazed collage.  I thought I take some time to talk about how these works differ  from my other other art.

The Substrate:
The surface that a piece of art is created "on" is called a substrate. Common examples are canvas, paper, and panel.  I use a cradled panel that is essentially a very shallow box. I use this because the rigid surface has the ability to hold lots and lots of glaze without slumping and because it has dimension. Using this "substrate" is a way of honoring my sculptural past. I love the heft of the 2" thick sides. 

In Between the Words, 36"x48x2, acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel, 2015 copyright Mary Zeran

She Had Run 20 Feet Before Even Considering a Direction, 24"x30"x2", acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel, 2015 copyright Mary Zeran

The Surface :
The surface of my pieces is luscious, glossy, and full of depth. I want each of these pieces to appear as if you are looking down into a clear pool of water or solid glass. This "wet looking", glazed surface makes the colors POP, and amplifies the depth creating an interesting optical allusion.

The Glaze:
Each cradled panel has 14 plus coats of glaze. Due to the drying time, it takes 14 days or more, to glaze a piece...14 days. When I created the piece for Convention Center, the glazing took a month. Interesting fact: the larger the surface area, the longer it takes to glaze a piece.


The Reason I don't Use Resin:
Years ago, I worked with resin. I was young and didn't realize what the chemicals would do my lungs. After several months of bronchitis due to working with chemicals, my doctor said I needed to quit working with this material. 

The glaze I use is a special/ secret recipe that I spent 3 months perfecting. It is water-soluble, durable, smooth, and glossy. When it comes to art making, I always ask myself, is the material good for my body? What would it do to the planet?

The Way of Her People, 24"x20"x2", acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel- 2015 copyright Mary Zeran

Her Idyllic Victorian Upbringing, 24"x20"x2", acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel- 2015 copyright Mary Zeran

The How:
The most important part of this is how I compose these piece. The creative tempo is slower….much slower. I try to savor the making…It is all about really exploring and collaborating with the process and the piece. I like to think of these as precious jewels because of all the love and energy that go into them.

Cheers!

Mary