Brushes | Gloria and Walala
Gloria (Tamerre) Petyarre and Walala Tjapaltjarri
different brushes - different linen preparation - different styles - both magical
An artist's brush is made of three parts: the handle, the ferrule, and the hair ('fibre).
Ferrules are crimp-on metal tubes used to create a secure and solid tip for the hair (fibre).
The artists working with Tingari Arts were very particular about the size, style and quality of the paintbrushes they would use.
Paint Brushes - Left Gloria's brush, right Walala's brush
Gloria (Tamerre) Petyarre
For her Leaves Blowing in the Wind - Bush Medicine paintings Gloria used a small fine brush called a ‘sable brush’. These brushes are known for their ability to hold a fine point, excellent paint retention and softness.
At Tingari Arts we purchased the synthetic sable hairbrush from India, preferring not to desecrate an animal.
The brush hairs (fibre) are longer than most artist paintbrushes and need to be treated with care so they don’t fray. After each use they would be carefully washed in water with the hairs gently squeezed towards the point so the soft fine point is retained.
Gloria lightly held the brush up near the handle end between her thumb, index finger and middle finger and gently flick the brush over the canvas. Her wrist and fingers were so graceful it was as they were one and the brush was just gliding over the canvas.
The Belgian linen canvases Gloria preferred were prepared with gesso as mentioned in an earlier story.
Walala Tjapaltjarri
Walala brush has a long seamless ferrule with a very long and thin clear polished wooden handle. He uses a SER 582 size 1 brush which has hair fibres much shorter than Gloria’s with a small rounded tip. For the dots Walala uses a small stick (or bamboo skewer).
Walala holds the paintbrush a lot closer to the tip than Gloria very gently by the top of his thumb and middle finger. Like Gloria his movements are very gentle and fluid.
Walala Tjapaltjarri - large canvas with hand detail painting
Large Artworks
Both Gloria and Walala paint with the canvas laying flat on the ground and will sit on it whilst painting a very large painting.
Gloria (Tamerre) Petyarre - Gloria working on a large canvas
Rabbit Skin Glue
As Walala does not usually paint over the entire canvas Rabbit Skin Glue is sometimes used to prepare the linen rather than gesso. This allows the beautiful linen weave to be seen in the painting. It has been used for centuries to protect linen and canvas, especially during the Renaissance, by creating a waterproof barrier between the canvas and then, oil paint, now also acrylic.
Both Gloria and Walala look as though they are playing a very special and delicate instrument when they are painting.
It’s magic to watch.
