Hello all! This question betrays the rustiness of my miniature painting savoir-faire -- I'm due for a refresher course with Vaishali; it's been a while! I was admiring this beautiful painting by @samanthabuckley designs on instagram (screenshot below, and link to the Instagram post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-nbTBus7qk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link). I believe that she did the shell gold background last, but it's done so impeccably and so "to the edge" of so many intricate fine flora shapes that I have a doubt. What do you all think - was that background done as the last step of the painting?
I think in these cases it can be a 2 step process: so shell gold the majority of it and also shell gold over where the flowers would be (as too finicky), then last step paint flowers over shell gold. This is a bit faster and easier. At least that’s how I’d do it but next time I see her I’ll ask her too 😊