Category Archives: The School

“Our goal is to see fresco being painted in every town”
www.FrescoSchool.org I Notes on the Medium

Didactic Fresco Panels for the Workshop at The Getty

During my fresco program at the Getty Villa we will explore the Roman Period of fresco using references from the Getty’s fabulous collection of Roman frescoes; didactic fresco panels in Roman style that I have prepared for the program and hands on practice. Each student will complete a buon fresco in Roman tradition.

Didactic Fresco Panels for the Getty Institute by iLia Fresco (Anossov)

Fresco Didactic Panels for the Getty Institute by iLia Fresco (Anossov)

The Medium of Fresco is defined by the chemical reaction of the calcium hydroxide combining with carbon dioxide in the air forming calcium carbonate. During this process natural pigments are being trapped within the calcium carbonate crystal which permanently binds them to the surface.
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What binds pigment to the wall in fresco?

I often asked, what binds fresco paint (natural pigment diluted in water) to the surface in fresco painting?

calcite crystals in fresco painting

Here is a snapshot of the bucket where I rinse my fresco tools and fresco brushes.

Carbon dioxide from the air reacted with the calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) in the water forming a thin transparent crust. Some water had evaporated and you can see that the process restarts once the water surface opens up.

That is exactly what happens on the plaster and binds pigment to the surface.

Preparing didactic fresco panels for the Getty

Juri Koll and I working on the didactic fresco panels for the upcoming fresco course at the Getty Villa.

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Fresco Painting Courses at The Getty Villa

Roman, about A.D. 70, fresco (plaster and pigment), Getty Villa Collection

Studio Course: Introduction to Fresco Painting (2-part course)
Sunday, September 29 and October 6, 2013
10:30am-5:00pm
Getty Villa: Meeting Rooms and Museum galleries

Join fresco master iLia Anossov for a hands-on introduction to the art of painting on fresh plaster. The two-day workshop explores plaster preparation, cartoon-making and transfer methods, raw pigments, and painting techniques through lecture, demonstration, and studio practice. Each participant completes a buon fresco tile. Continue reading →

Ruby Dee Mural – final day

Ruby Dee Mural by the “father of street art” muralist Kent Twitchell – final day.
The unveiling is in few hours, we still need to paint the shadow!

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Ruby Dee Mural – full figure is almost up

Ruby Dee Mural – day 14

The full figure is almost up – 7 panels are left to go! Installed by Kent Twitchell, Fresco School and our Cleveland team.

Ruby Dee Mural – installing the pieces

Ruby Dee Mural – day 9
The wall prep has been done and now actual mural pieces are being installed on the historic Karamu House Theater in Cleveland Ohio.

Mural by Kent Twitchell, installation by Kent Twitchell and Fresco School.

Ruby Dee Mural – priming the wall

Ruby Dee Mural – Day 5

We have prepped the wall and begun priming the surface with artist’s gesso.

Ruby Dee Mural – prepping surface under the mural

Ruby Dee Mural – Day 4
We have transferred the outline for the mural and now begin to fill up the holes and in between brick space with plaster mix to create flat surface for the installation of the mural.

Ruby Dee Mural – lining up the wall

Ruby Dee Mural – Day 3.
We placed the actual mural pieces on the wall to confirm the positioning and do the trace outline for prepping the wall area directly under the mural.

Ruby Dee mural on Karamu House – wall prep

Ruby Dee mural by Kent Twitchell installation on a historic Karamu House begins today in Cleveland Ohio marking a launch of the mural program.

Wall is being prepared by the Fresco School and our Cleveland team of students-apprentices. In the bucket – Phillip Anossov (Fresco School) and
Donald W Davis (Cleveland team) removing old sign framing.

As part of the program, Kent will teach his techniques of painting large scale murals. I will introduce the students to classic techniques of the buon fresco.

The Fresco School – www.FrescoSchool.org

The Fresco School

Established in 1997 in Los Angeles by fresco artist iLia Anossov (fresco) previously known as “Nationwide Fresco Painting Workshop Program” since 1992. Hundreds of students have attended our workshops enrolling from US, Canada, Europe. Fresco School is the only Art School that offers ongoing fresco curriculum throughout the calendar year. Our buon fresco programs have traveled to many US cities.

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