Traditionally, illuminations refer to the decorative art within manuscript books or books of hours. These paintings were created using tempera paint (a mixture of egg yolk and ground pigments) and illuminated with either gold leaf or silver leaf. The precious metal was burnished to a high shine, giving a luminous glow to the artwork.
Nadezhda Lisak studied the traditional craft of illuminations, and can now produce copies of initials, vignettes, or scenes from historical manuscript books. She uses pure pigment gouache, which is lightfast (the colours do not fade over time as poor quality paints do), and 24 carat gold leaf. The image can either be produced on paper or vellum (prepared calf skin).
Using the traditional painting techniques, Nadezhda also creates contemporary illuminations of her own design (Peacock and Elgar's Trees), with or without the accompaniment of words.
