GETTING CLOSE!

50/50 #46

50/50 (46)

This background is a variety of Asian papers collaged down then glazed with a few colors.  This was one of my most favorite backgrounds.  I am definitely going to do this idea in a larger format sometime soon.  The drawing works very well on this surface.  It just needed a little white accents.

COMING DOWN TO THE FINISH LINE!

50/50 #45

At the very beginning of this project, I decided to paint the sides of the panels as they would be showing and I thought it might look good if it had various colors.  I divided the panels equally among the major hues and then did variations on each hue so that each panel had a distinctly different edge color.  When I went to add collage material and glazing colors, the edge of the panel determined color family I worked with.  This piece was from the purple palette and I had added black to the original color so it needed something in the maroon family for the collage material.  This made for a fairly dark background.  I used a fair amount of white acrylic to add definition to the black drawn lines.  Overall, I think it suits the emotion very well.

You know that you can click on the image and bring it up larger in a separate screen.  The texture shows up quite well that way.

GOING, GOING, GONE!

50/50 #44

50/50 (44)

This background was made with crackle paste over the watercolor paper and when dry, glazed with cerulean blue and neutral tint with some Kosher salt thrown in for good measure.  I am always disappointed that I don't seem to get really exciting cracks developing but the pigment helps to bring what is there, out.  The salt acts a little visually like ages spots!  This particular tile has already been purchased!  I will hang it in the show with a red dot and the owner will probably take it home opening night.
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GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE!

50/50 #43

This background has a number of layers of tissue as I worked to tone down the brightness of the color.  The last layer is a bronze acrylic glaze.  It leaves a slight sparkle to the surface which is an interesting contrast to this bushman image.   I loved the strong features and great hair of this gentleman.  A fairly simple drawing with such a busy surface.

MY BLUE PHASE!

50/50 #42

50/50 (42)

This was another subtle background with a simple drawing.  This is a technique that I have used many times.  I stamp into wet gesso.  This was a commercial stamp giving a nice rough texture to the surface.  I glazed it with a soft cerulean blue.  A very sketchy looking drawing with a little tonal value added for interest.

TOO SUBTLE?

50/50 #41

This started as a gesso stamped tissue onto white paper then several light glazes were applied.  The pattern barely showed up.  I think if the watercolor paper had been painted with a darker color first, then the paper collaged over, the pattern would show up much more.  So these are the things you learn by making just one change in the procedure.  Each decision makes a difference in the result.  If you want a subtle effect, this is an interesting way to go.

AM I BLUE?

50/50 #40

The simplicity of this background doesn't compete with the drawing.  I like how this one came out.  The background papers on this piece comes from a very simple technique that produces great results.  I got the idea from Edward Betts bookMaster Class in Watermedia.  (around the top of my list of great books) where he paints brushstrokes through tissue onto watercolor paper.  The tissue blocks some of the paint giving an uneven stroke on the watercolor paper in a way that is impossible to get with a straight forward approach.  I save the tissue! (of course) and then I decided to drop some tissue onto the butcher's tray I was using as a palette  and lifted off the residue that was there.  You have to carefully lift it up and drape it over a chair back or something until it dries as wet tissue is very fragile.  Anyway, that's how you can get that blotchy look.  So many times our palette looks so much  more beautiful than the painting!  Now you can capture that beauty.  It also appeals to the frugal nature in some of use.  Nothing wasted!