Mysteries in the Woods

I've been looking at the leaves that are still on the trees and they sparkle against dark backgrounds. I've been trying to figure out how to pull this off in a painting in a loose fashion. It seems like it should be easy but it's definitely not! This piece is my impression of what these leaves look like.

I masked whites with white gouache and floated acrylic inks over that. When it dried I washed off the gouache and went back into the piece with watercolor and more acrylic ink and even some Pearl Ex powders! I added the whites with a wooden nib. I was exploring making marks with instruments other than paint brushes. A lot of the dark marks are make with the wooden nib as well. I like the variety that the marks add to this piece. There's also a lot of iridescent paint in this piece.

I put this piece up in my living room when I thought that I was finished and decided that I really like it. It's more impressionistic that I've been working lately but it's really interesting to look at!

"Mysteries in the Woods" • Original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper • 15" x 11.5"

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