looking at gold leaf and air conditioning

i split my time between my home in rural herefordshire in the uk, and abu dhabi in the uae. life took an unexpected turn about 5 years ago, and i now flit between 2 studios, carrying my small drill in my hand luggage. it has been a very good lesson in paring down to the bare essentials, and i now find i need very little kit to make my work.

i have become quite resourceful as supplies are difficult to source in the uae, and i use what i can get. this has led to developments in my work i believe would never have occured without the dramatic contrast between my 2 lives. 

there's a lot of gold here and it has found its way into almost all my work. i use the alchemy of water gilding on flat glass, or oil gild into my engravings, and engrave into that in turn. i am unashamedly decorative. this week however, i have been stymied by the weather.

outside it is now regularly in the 40s, and it will get higher in the next few weeks. this is playing havoc with the gilding as the size will not set and i can't engrave into the gold. i have learned the hard way via several smudged attempts and wasted leaf (22ct champagne coloured, my absolute favourite shade) how to achieve this delicate balance. I must make sure that the glass is sitting in a room with the aircon switched on, so it comes with me like a pampered pet that can't be left alone, and i must not touch it at all.  still waiting.....