ReVivoArtistry

Towards the June Exhibition: A Journal of Craft and Shared Creativity
by Stefania Molinari

Last week we continued the preparation of our canvases and then painted over the theme we want to bring to the art exhibition at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst HGB Graphic School in Leipzig at the end of July. In particular, we devoted ourselves to preparing the second layer of finish to be applied over the previous one, which was applied and dried the week before. What does it consist of?

As the day was very beautiful, sunny and warm, we decided to go to the nearby park (the Auwald Park) and be inspired by the surrounding nature and the fresh air of the middle of spring.

Preparing the Second Layer

The preparation of the second layer began with great care for the composition of the new mixture, designed to give body and final strength to our canvases. To the base created last week — made of warm water and rabbit glue, now perfectly solidified — we slowly and methodically added a blend of linseed oil and finely sifted clay and chalk powder. The entire mixture was placed in a bucket, which was then set inside a larger basin filled with warm water. This helped maintain a consistent temperature and supported a smooth blending process.

Application on the Canvas

Once the mixture was ready, we moved on to carefully applying it onto the canvases that had been dried and prepared during the previous week. The surfaces, well-stretched and properly dried in a controlled environment, were ready to receive the second finish layer. Using wide spatulas and flat brushes, the creamy mixture was spread in smooth, controlled motions to ensure complete and even coverage.

Special attention was paid to the tiniest details: every small hole, gap, or imperfection had to be filled so that the final surface would be perfectly smooth and ready for the painting process. This stage demanded focus and almost meditative gestures, where each movement became intentional and deliberate..

Brainstorming and Visions for June

After the day’s work, we took time to relax and engage in a creative exchange in preparation for the June exhibition. It was not just a moment of rest but a truly fertile and inspiring time for sharing and collaboration. Each of us presented our ideas for the final piece, openly sharing our individual creative directions and listening attentively to each other.

The most surprising moment came almost by accident: the idea to use leftover materials from the canvas-making process — rags, solidified residues, pieces of fallen plaster, wood fragments — to create a collective installation. This concept not only connects our works into a unified narrative, but also gives new life to what would have been discarded, turning waste into artistic language.

It was a deeply enriching experience, one that strengthened our group spirit and reignited our enthusiasm as we move toward the exhibition. Once again, art found its strength in dialogue.

To conclude…

As June approaches, the sense of anticipation grows stronger. After weeks of careful preparation, collaborative effort, and shared vision, the moment to exhibit our work is almost within reach. There’s a quiet excitement in knowing that soon our pieces will leave the studio and enter a public space, where they’ll speak not only of individual expression but of a collective journey. The exhibition will be more than just a display — it will be a celebration of process, material, and the creative bonds that have shaped every step of this experience.

More info on: https://www.hgb-leipzig.de/ and on https://musaferqassim.com/.