More work this afternoon; cut two canvas panels for the Shakespeare and Volcanism paintings, using a snap-off knife which is always unpleasant on 3mm MDF, but just about doable. A jigsaw would be easier.
After that, I took down a heavy 50x60cm frame. B&M used to sell these as mirrors, solid wood covered in plaster and mouldings, very cheaply for the work, about £10 for a 40x30 frame, £17 for 50x60cm. Now, all frames are the cheap hollow plastic (at the same size), but I've bought a lot of the solid wood-plaster ones, perhaps 15 over the years. These were probably made en-masse in some far-east place at really low prices. Now, nobody could make these at this price, they would cost hundreds at this quality, the last of a line of solid wood frames. So I've spent most of the evening painting one in gold paint, using liquefied gold acrylic for the last step, so that it evaporates to give an even coat.
I also stuck the wooden frame to the Ernie Edgeley frame. The epoxy putty which held the fixings fell away from the frame quite easily... this made me reconsider how to attach the wood here; there aren't many options. In the end I used a pool on Titebond, and fitted lots of Milliput around the edge. This is the yellow-green Milliput which I hate. I love the concept of epoxy putty, and like the use the white stuff but the yellow-green stuff is terrible in every way, it flakes rather than sticks, is rock hard even in the hottest of summery months and stains everything. I wish someone made something like Milliput but softer and more sticky, yet with an longer working time. Perhaps I should experiment with making my own linseed putty.
In other news, Deb and I watched the Pixar film Soul last night. Beautiful and imaginative, but so disappointing, the story was a rambling mess that missed so many opportunities. The film builds to the climax of the protagonist musician playing with his dream jazz hero, even conquering death to do this, yet to subvert this apparent cliché of a climax, he doesn't enjoy the hit-gig (despite being an amazing piano player, he has apparently never played a gig) and, amazingly, loses his passion for music! The film rambles on for 40 more minutes leaving various unexplained plot holes along the way. Richard Ayoade, amazing in everything, is poor here. Graham Norton is stunningly miscast in a part that Johnny Depp probably would have got if he weren't 'cancelled'.
