"'Prima Materia'" Painting

​Since 2005, British artist, Johnny Darko, has been creating one of a kind pieces with gold, copper and silver leaf, reminiscent of an old worn Chateau panel one might see throughout Europe”. It was whilst living in Australia that Darko discovered and developed the technique, as he calls it, 'the application of acids over gold, copper and silver leaf '​. ​"Working with such a fragile medium as gold leaf is such a remarkable process. Gilding in itself is an extremely beautiful craft, however, bringing in various acids and using such a harsh contrast as a medium always fascinates me as an artist. ​I like to refer to my technique as "Reversed Alchemy". As opposed to taking a raw material as ancient Alchemist's would, such as iron and then try to transmute this element into Gold, I begin with a precious metal, and begin to take it down to something much more base. The fragility of the leaf instantly changes once the acids are applied and new colours, tones and patterns evolve. And it is through this alchemical mix that something new and much rawer is born before me". If the art of “Alchemy” is to take the seemingly ordinary and transform it into something quite extraordinary, then, artist Johnny Darko is indeed the “alchemist de force”.