Going with the Flow

"Blue Sky"

mixed media on paper, almost done...

26" x 40"

Realizing the trees were underdeveloped, I made an adjustment...

I like to work in series, the urban setting that surrounds me daily is my biggest inspiration. I have been focusing on the image transfer process and had attempted to fuse an image onto watercolor paper, but that did not go well. Once I realized the image was not going to adhere properly, I decided to paint without the transfer and ended up free hand drawing the skyline of the city (this is a view from the Lincoln Park Zoo bridge). I added Tengucho paper dipped in wax to create cloud texture, used R&F oil sticks, and Kama dry pigments (copper, graphite, and rouge). 

It was the first time I worked with an oil based paint on paper, it felt like I was side tracked from my original plan, but the process was fun and I finally got to use some of the really cool supplies I bought at the encaustic conference in June.

The first weekend in August I will be at the last outdoor festival I signed up to participate in this season and my motivation has been to have new, city-inspired work. I managed to complete this smaller painting of the Willis Tower, 18" x 6" on cradled panel a few weeks ago, and it is an extension of my Navy Pier painting, the two pieces coordinate and can hang together.

In between the transfer work, I am also working with monotypes. The process lends itself to working abstractly, but I am feeling more of a connection to watercolor washes and hope to create prints with the subtle feel of landscape. I am bouncing back and forth, but I am determined to find a way to connect the dots between these two styles.

A few more monotypes -

Mountain Stream, 16" x 22" on mulberry paper

Both of these are 12" x 18" on kozo (sumi-e) paper. Sand comes to mind, and the beach...