I take the water and let it pour over the surface as I add pigment to it. I watch the water as it spreads, taking the color in different directions. I abruptly interrupt that flow of water through various means. In some places I will sprinkle salt on the dampened paper and watch the salt draw the pigment from the paper. In other places I will blot up the excess water and create lighter patches. There are other tricks that I can’t tell you because they are secret...haha.  

After the water and pigment are down and the painting is dry and the salt is dusted off, it is time for the India Ink. This is something that isn’t planned out, it is influenced from the moment I am in. 

My finished pieces are flowing moments captured on paper and presented to you. 

The influence of my work today
My art today isn't what it always has been. When I began teaching myself watercolors, I devoured every book I could find. Books on light, shadow, people, texture, as well as what other artists were doing with various techniques and styles. I set out on a path exploring realism as a style. I found that I enjoyed doing animals and flowers, especially flowers. I became very adept with the style but didn't feel like my work had a voice. 

It was at this time that my life was experiencing some turmoil and I completely lost the ability to focus on those details. My husband was sick and I was losing my house.

One day, I needed my art, my anxiety and frustration were through the roof. I threw water on my paper and then dropped pigment into the pool and watched it blossom. As it did this, it also rolled across the paper in a stream, running into other colors along the way. Merging and melting into one another. It ended up being an abstract piece (pictured to the right)

Bits and shapes of color then turned into suggestions of images like the turtle in the adjacent column. Eventually what started out as a place of anger, frustration and anxiety evolved into a happy and whimsical style that sometimes tip toes over into the downright silly.

For more on the evolution of my style -Read this-

“If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.”

– Edward Hopper

My First Ink.	Turtle Implied