"Above the Ocean" is a textural extravaganza of mixed watercolor and acrylic ink. I began by creating outlines of flying birds. If you cut them out of tracing paper, you can arrange them in a pleasing way on the paper that you're planning to paint on. It's a good idea to make some of the birds appear to be just partially on the painting. This can give a sense of movement to the piece. When I decided on the arrangement, I cut the birds out of contact paper and adhered them to my watercolor paper. This is a great way to mask big areas.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hA6SzQYy3OIxTJRm6wc0wKNSOnF40qnHmZi4emhOtpnRkUK-rUZ-zop7xUriQgYjVd735aAGyTjr22lBfTXwwCFAewyAg1dyESL1mtlyataXxnm14brZmUtPOsUeWKKg6Px869eQNBXE/s400/AbovetheOceanstep1blog.jpg) |
This shows the contact paper birds on my watercolor paper. |
Next comes the really fun part! Just throw paint on the paper. I used watercolors and acrylic inks. I spritzed with a mixture of water and ox gall liquid to make the paint granulate and to really make the ink spread. Next I covered with saran wrap.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg461LaZPJgEx8mqktT2ALtCYiLGvvgVQa3sZHcOuVn3B0QS6orNc7FegJZJTfUyA7ugKLBwR7Oei2KEwL9xFTu_QINQW5nILS1v5OUmnb7jCmDnaPAhBfunkCtuIE4ku0FOf78fVtofk/s400/abovetheoceanstep2blog.jpg) |
Here's what's happened so far! |
After I let everything dry, I peeled off all of the texture as well as the contact paper.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzqJ1zAZGYDqWkV9xMlZjVH_WqDVruTkc0-fBAbUz769TFYSAccBHTysYSwiTbmaBGhjWb33IfvfIrO66w6ws4U-hgIUPUIexT_lEG6q9ZXOl0WHh7bCTPIvQ-8w0ZWbNxDPaRU9ozOu6/s400/AbovetheOceanstep3blog.jpg) |
Here's what the piece looks like under all that saran wrap! |
The next step is to finish the birds and add to the background.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MWHHNZs61jejt2tA5JzQ0WAIlGkZcm0Cb-10Hdm1n_nuzRNgSiuZIY_ZKIcgxSsFm48gQJ0waRDzSkDkmpgpI_iMZqWkgATdVygWqY6FfQ1W-AbbcbLDkOcIG2xdNvBmICHhyphenhyphen5q1jdJ9/s400/AbovetheOcean2015blog.jpg) |
"Above the Ocean" • mixed watermedia on Arches 140# cold press paper |
I added to the ocean and painted the birds. I really like how the texture worked out in the water.
For more information about this piece click
HERE.
cMelissa Gannon 2015