Spring Sampler

"Bluebird Fantasy"

acrylic and mixed media

on 8 x 10 gallery wrapped canvas

This little sampler painting started out of frugality. Rather than have it dry up, I used a little bit of modeling paste which was left in a jar and smeared it on this canvas absentmindedly one day.  When I looked at it a few weeks later, I saw the bird and  flower shapes, so I rubbed in and wiped off various layers of paint onto the modeling paste.

I tried a variety of techniques on the background, most of which were covered up by other techniques I wanted to try.  It was a very satisfying project, to be free to just experiment and not worry about the results.  It wasn't about the composition, it was all about texture and color.  (Click on photos to enlarge a bit.)

(detail)

I like the way the elements continue on all four sides.

And I like the way the crackle medium makes the sunflower and blue bird look almost like old cracked porcelain.

(detail)