Mixed Media: Lapis/Quartz 05/29-30/08

I started this on 5/29 by grabbing a piece of scrap watercolor paper and taping to a piece of gatorboard. I added some lapis beads, two quartz crystals, and a piece of a butterfly wing, the pattern of which was used in the creation of the Butterfly Mandala I created in 2002.

I sprayed the damp paper with diluted cobalt blue and some diluted sap green watercolor paints. This is how it appeared while it was all still wet.The next morning (5/30), when dry, I took this photo. Some color pooled up around the edges and then around the lapis and crystals.
Here's a close-up shot.
I removed the lapis beads, crystals, and tape. This is how it now looks.
And here's a close-up of it. I decided to leave the wing in the painting. Now it's ready for painting or colored pencils.

Mixed Media: Green/Black 05/27-30/08

I started this piece around 5/27. While the paper was wet, I sprayed it with diluted black and diluted yellow watercolor paints. Because the paper was wet without it being taped down, the colors blended and pooled creating the effect you see here after it dried.
On 5/29 I added some coarse beach sand that I collected in Yachats, Oregon. I also placed a clear quartz crystal just above and to the right of center. I sprayed it with some diluted phtalo blue and diluted yellow watercolor paints, giving it a greenish tint.Here's a close-up shot of the dried painting the next morning. The crystal is more visible here. Notice how the color pools up in feather lines around the sand.

I removed the sand and crystal and this is what remains.

Abstract Watercolor: Blues & Reds 05/29-30/08

I started this around 5/27 by spraying it with diluted red and diluted phtalo blue watercolor paint. I had already sprayed at least two layers of these color by the time I took this photo.


I sprayed it while the paper was dry which is why it appears spotted. Had the paper been wet, the colors would be more blended. Sections of this appear blended because after a few sprayings, the paper became wet which then made the colors blend.On 5/29 I spray the dried paper with more of the red and blue. I took this photo while it was still wet. You can see where the water pooled up. As the paper becomes wet it buckles, creating hills & valleys...hence the pooling.
Here's how it looked this morning (5/30) after it had dried overnight. I see some interesting possibilities with this one. Next step is either painting it or coloring with colored pencils.

Mixed Media: Yachat's Sand in Orange 5/29-30/08

This is a new piece I started around 5/27. I had initially sprayed it with diluted yellow and diluted red watercolor paints. On 5/29 I added some coarse beach sand I collected from a beach in Yachats, Oregon (very cute town if you're looking for a less-populated place to visit/vacation).

After placing the sand, I sprayed it again with yellow and then red.
I took this photo the next morning (5/30) after it had dried.
Here's a close up shot of it. Notice how the paint coagulates around the sand.
I removed the sand. This is what it looks like now.
Here's a close-up shot. Lots of interesting things happening. The next step will be to add either more paint or do some coloring with colored pencils.

Mixed Media: Daisies 5/29-30/08

Here I added some pine needles and then sprayed some red and ultramarine violet diluted watercolor paint over the painting. After it dried by the next morning, I took this photo of it.
Here's a close up shot.
I then removed the coarse sand and needles. This is what it looks like now. The pine needles made an ever so slight but noticeable difference.
Here's a close-up shot. It almost looks like pomegranate berries on the 'daisy' sections.

Mixed Media: Angelica 5/29-30/08

I sprayed this with rose, blue and ultramarine violet. This photo was taken while the painting was still wet. Before it dried and after I took this photo, I took a paper towel and dipped a corner of it into the pools of paint to remove some of the excess paint.

Below is a photo of this piece after it dried overnight.
And this is a close-up shot of the dried version.

Mixed Media: Angelica 5/25/08

Here I added more sprays of ultramarine violet and pthalo blue watercolor paints. Once it dried, I removed the angelica flower.

I then put a light spray of ultramarine violet. This photo was taken just after I sprayed; the paper curled from the moisture. As it dries the paper will level out again.

Mixed Media: Daisies 5/25/08

I actually started this on 5/24 and took this photo on 5/25. I put the daisies face down along with some yarrow leaves and then sprayed it with watered-down cobalt blue watercolor paint. Once it was dry, I took the vegetation off sprayed it with watered-down sap green watercolor paint. The yellow you see is the pollen dust from the daisies. I decided to incorporate it into the painting.

Mixed Media: Angelica 5/24/08

I took a break from the "Iris" Mandala to play with nature and spraying watercolor paint. The flower is a cutting from an angelica plant. I put it on watercolor paper and with a squirt bottle sprayed it with water-downed ultramarine violet watercolor paint. Later, after it dried, I sprayed it with watered-down phtalo blue watercolor paint.