Last month, I embarked on the lengthy process of rendering our Rock Penguins in wood. Yes, that’s Rock, not Rockhopper (well, mostly). Let me clarify.
One holiday season years ago, friends gave us a train display for our yard. Our daughters had the awesome idea of creating an Ozzie Osborne penguin to engineer that “Crazy Train.” Being constructed of cardboard, the train lasted only one season of Texas holiday weather, but Ozzie, painted on foamboard and sealed in adhesive plastic, lived on. He looked lonely, so we created him some friends. Rock friends, to be precise (and some are rockhoppers, as well).
First Chuck Berry joined the festivities, followed by Joan Jett, George Michael, David Bowie (aka Ziggy Stardust), Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury, and last year’s addition, Dolly Parton. But, even in their adhesive shields, our Antarctic friends began to show wear. Chuck’s guitar bled onto his arm, David’s head hung in a permanent bow, Tina’s feet in striking gold heels turned at the ankle. Our penguin friends began to take on a decidedly Halloween look.
We recently acquired a power saw and I saw—pun intended—my husband’s eyes light up in a way that astonished me. To my surprise, I had a Tool Time husband! I thought, why not recreate our Rock Star Penguins in sturdy wood, using paints intended for the great out of doors? We can repaint as needed, because they won’t need plastic adhesive shielding.
Emboldened by the idea and recognizing the enormity of the task, we journeyed to our home improvement store, purchased three sheets of four-by-eight plywood, had it cut into fourths, and motored home with possibilities bouncing in the bed of our truck. We toted the boards inside; I covered tables and floor with plastic; and we laid the wood out for Step 1. That’s when I got out the bucket of gesso.
Gesso, if the term is new for you, is pronounced with a soft “g,” as if we were a j: Jesso. Gesso is used to seal surfaces for painting: on a gessoed surface, the paint stays bright and doesn’t seep in. Fun Fact: Applying two coats of gesso, front and back, to large boards tucked into every inch of a home’s table and floor space is two things: boring and hard. It is possible that Pelaton might use the necessary moves to create a new workout video. The brush dragged along the wood; I ran out of Gesso and had to procure more; my back ached.
Kicking my thoroughly gessoed self, I thought, what a waste of money and time. But, we’d made the investment, so I might as well get on with it. Besides, the old penguins deserved to be thanked for their service and laid respectfully to rest.
Today, the gessoing is done. Looking at the boards, fresh painted with promise, I’m again feeling that sense of wonder and hope. I don’t know how long this project will take or how inconvenient it may be. Still, I want to do it. I hope to provide a smile to our neighbors during a pandemic that just won’t quit. I want to give my husband an opportunity to be Mr. Tool Time. I want my daughters to come home to a holiday welcoming committee straight from the rock stages of Antarctica.
Sometimes to get to joy, we first have to gesso.
What, for you, is gessoing? What helps you stay with it to the joy? Share your Soul & Solace thoughts with us at contact@aspaciousplace.com.