'Dream, Awaken' ...the process

'Dream, Awaken'

5" x 5" mixed media on canvas

Original $65.

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ...
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."
- Carl Jung

How does the process begin? What goes through your mind? Do you have a clear vision of the outcome or just allow yourself to be guided.

This is my attempt to show you my steps or thinking as I am guided in the process of creating my layered mixed media works of nature. I begin with a quote and in this case the one above. I then decide on color and what is speaking to me at the moment. Using FW acrylic ink I apply the color to the canvas with cotton balls so to get a rustic looking background.

Next I write the quote using an Artwin pen and blur the writing by misting with water or rubbing alcohol. Although the quote has meaning it also provides a background. Sometimes I want it ledgable and will repeat a quote in a later stage of the painting.

More background is added with transfers of my designs I do on the computer. My favorite transfer method is printing the designs on transparency sheets and using rubbing alcohol to make the transfer.

*Side note here before I forget. I spray the piece with an acrylic spray or fixative between steps that I know will run to keep them fixed.

Next I add bits of paper for color, design, and texture. I apply the paper with a gel medium.

One of the final steps is painting in my nature subject.  It could be a bird, butterfly or plant life. Sometimes I have an idea at the beginning but it can change by this step. I originally was going to do a bird but a butterfly image became strong as I was creating the background.

I start by sketching the butterfly out on plain paper working from my photos. Using graph paper I transfer the outline to the canvas and fill it in with white gesso. The gesso provides a surface and background to make the butterfly stand out and not have the under-layers interfere with the colors. The butterfly was created with gouache and colored pencil.  The last step in this case was writing 'Dream Awaken' with a calligraphic pen and gouache.

I finish my canvas with a UV acrylic spray which is glossy. Then I apply a matte varnish.

I love the gallery wrap canvases that you can paint around the sides. I like to hang them as they are with no frame but you could frame them if you wish.