With this painting, I wanted to experiment with gold pigment and black ink. I used a metallic gold fluid acrylic paint, layered with a heavier body acrylic. I first applied a blue acrylic wash, allowed/pushed the paint to flow in certain areas and allowed it to dry. This was repeated in multiple layers with the different colored paints and splattered with black calligraphy ink. Interestingly, the gold paint tends to blend with other wet colors differently than other colors. The metallic pigment does not mix with other colors, therefore, it stays more prominent when it flows into other wet colors.

Verdict: I need MORE metallic pigments!

Empty Easel

I've just discovered a new favorite website via Twitter: Empty Easel. What a wealth of inspiration and helpful articles! I've got a lot of reading to do!

My current favorite I can really relate to. So many times when I tell somebody I'm an artist, I hear the "I can't draw a stick figure" line.... I try to convince them that they just have to try, learn, and practice, but they've already got it fixed in their heads that they CAN'T, so they don't even try. Now I can use the sports analogy! Woohoo!!

http://bit.ly/I6sEO