The Lost Cave Paintings of Saint Paul

I am privileged to have been chosen as the Official Documentarian of the Lost Cave Paintings of Saint Paul. The one strict requirement -- that I keep secret the caves' locations -- is easy to follow.

The Lost Cave Paintings of Saint Paul were more or less born in a magical moment at The Northstar Watermedia Society's Art-on-a-Line in 2012, when I saw Paul Boecher demonstrating gesso on board and paper. I looked at his work, my brain said “cave walls,” and the rest is prehistoric history.

Creating cave walls is a three-part process: (1) Apply gesso* to a substrate (paper, canvas, primed aluminum) and tint with acrylic ink or acrylic paint. (2) Splodge the gesso to make as much texture as you like. This is the place to go wild with all the tools you have that create texture.  (3). Wait until tomorrow for it to dry. Then, paint your creatures or scenery with watercolor or acrylic.

* Artists use gesso to prime canvas and to create texture. In the Olden Days or in Traditional Art Classes, artists created gesso by boiling rabbit skins. In Modern Times, they purchase tubs of white or colored acrylic gesso from art supply stores. No rabbits die for my work. Ever.

Click on each image to learn its story.