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Gum Bichromate Process

The gum bichromate process is an exciting technique which requires a thorough knowledge of color because of the successive buildup and blocking out of various layers of transparent colors.  Good drawing and strong composition skills are essential too.  First, the landscape shape outlines are drawn.  Next, watercolor is squeezed into a container filled with gum arabic.  Then the watercolor and gum arabic are mixed with potassium dichromate.  The initial application of this light-sensitive solution is painted onto the background.  The painted paper is placed on a rack to dry.  Once the paper is dry, a second coat of light-sensitive material is applied over the first coat.  After applying the light-sensitive material to another area of the painting, the paper is left to dry.  A fabric is laid over it and then it is exposed to light.  Next, the paper is placed in a tray of water and developed.  Then the paper is allowed to dry.  The rest of the foreground is painted in with watercolor.  After applying more colors of light-sensitive solution, more fabric is placed over an area and, again, the paper is exposed and developed.

About the Artist

g.a. Sheller is recognized as one of the country's leading artists in the synthesis of watercolor and photography, and is a renowned colorist whose paintings highlight landscapes and plant forms.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the College of New Rochelle (NY) with additional graduate study at Pennsylvania State University and with Robert Reed at Yale University.  g.a. has completed over 100 commissions and her work is found in corporate and private collections in the U.S. and overseas.  She has received numerous awards in national exhibitions and has shown her work throughout the U.S. and England.  For over 30 years, g.a. has conducted painting workshops in the U.S., Ireland, Scotland, France, and Greece.  g.a. Sheller teaches ongoing painting and drawing classes at the Creative Workshop of the Memorial Art Gallery, University of Rochester (NY), where she has been on the faculty since 1983.