What is Fresco

Applying the lime plaster surface

Textured Fresco surface

What Is Fresco?

Fresco, meaning ‘fresh’ in Italian, is an ancient style of painting popularized during the Renaissance. 

It is created by painting directly onto thinly laid, fresh plaster containing lime. Fresco offers a permanence and texture which is unique.  Our contemporary fresco technique involves making incisions and drawing into the wet plaster. Pure pigments mixed with water are applied to the lime rich wet plaster, usually on a wooden surface.

The HIVE Signature Fresco Workshop (2 hours)

• Brief introduction to fresco painting history

• Simple drawing exercises

• Water colour wet on wet technique exercise

• Composition planning

• Applying the plaster to the wood surface

• Incision and drawing into the wet plaster

• Applying pigments to the plaster

• Discussion of additional surface techniques for finishing such as applying wax

All materials are provided and the artwork is created under the guidance of Joanne or Julie who are registered teachers.