One framing technique that I love to use is Pastiglia, or 'pastework'. This is a technique used to apply a bass relief pattern to a frame (furniture or artwork) using gesso. It was developed in renaissance Italy and used extensively between the 14th and 16th centuries as a cost effective method of imparting patterning. Pastiglia is the renaissance equivalent of composition moulding (developed in the late 18th century).
The process itself is very time consuming, requiring layer upon layer of gesso be applied to build up to the desired depth. Talking with a friend about this technique, she expressed that I must find it very tedious. But on the contrary, I find the process quite meditative and the slow emerging of detail really rewarding... I will often lose track of time. The process is enjoyable to me and the investment of time pays off with such a gorgeous finished product!
Gesso has a tendency to crack if applied in one thick layer, so each layer needs to dry before the next one is applied, especially when doing higher relief patterning such as the frame below. You can see the layers in this first image...
By this stage (below), I have begun carving and sanding the pastiglia to refine the pattern...
In the below images, the pastiglia work is complete, and finer patterning in composition moulding and a sand panel has been added...
My role in the creation of this frame was to apply to pastiglia and composition, and it was then sent on to the Western Australian Art Gallery for finishing / completion.