The Bisbee Vine at St. Patrick Church

The medium is chosen that best depicts the idea and fits the old and cracked wall . . .

The upper half of the wall was to present the Seven Sacraments in a subtle manner. Thus the centuries-old medium, known as Sepia, was chosen. Sepia features a combination of reddish browns, blended with rich ambers, shades of umber and blackish olive. This muted palette seemed the perfect fit for the upper half of the wall. Drawn properly, the cracks and imperfections of the stained and old weathered wall could enhance depictions of the Sacraments.


Now to the lower half of the wall. Visually, it needed a medium that was both complementary to the flat sepia drawings  yet offered a distinct  and dimensional contrast. Since small cracks, crevices and voids in the wall could not be camouflaged by merely painting larger than life grape leaves on the wall, bas-relief was considered. 


Bas-relief solved two problems…… 


 1) The cracks and crevasses would be filled by using new concrete. Chicken wire reinforced leaves should be a help to the old wall. Notice  the faint green outline of the grape leaves with many nails anchoring the reinforcing chicken wire.


2) Adding depth to the wall gave a solid visual foundation for the Sacraments while adding a bit of physical strength to the cracking wall.  Bas-relief seemed, at least to this artist, to be the best fit. Besides, I also thoroughly enjoy working with concrete.