earth pigments on Stringybark (Eucalyptus sp.)

A bark painting with white ‘Gapan’ ochre, artist-mixed with pVA binder from North East Arnhemland, Australia. This bark painting exhibited significant flaking throughout the matte ochre paint, with extensive cracks, active flaking and losses. Some areas of paint were vulnerable and powdery. To stabilise the paint layer we:

• stablised flaking media

• flattened cracks and areas of lifting paint

• consolidated powdering media by gentle introduction of adhesives using ultrasonic nebulisation