Behind the scenes : Creating my latest artwork “Bluebonnets”

Bluebonnets, diptych, 40”x60”, mixed media on cradled panel

I have so many inspiration ideas that it’s hard to pin the next idea for a painting down and get started. This time, it was the start of spring in texas, the bluebonnets were flowering in massive groupings by the side of the road as I drove from Houston to Austin and back. I stopped and took some photos. I could see a landscape idea in my head - maybe a diptych.

The next step was to draw on my iPad - I decided to draw some distant landscapes, and also some close ups. I liked my closeups as well and decided to create a couple of squares, which I am still working on , and I won’t go into here, as that’s been a whole interesting roller coaster ride and a story for another time.

So, the middle drawing became this inspiration for a diptych “Blue bonnets.” This time I decided to create it slightly smaller than my standard 48”x36”, so ordered two 40”x30” panels from a local business JS Canvas, who make the panels to order.

While the panels are being made, I am busy checking my supplies - gesso, paint colors, and calculating how much of each paint color I’ll need to mix up for coverage.

Once I have everything I need, I set up my studio for painting. First step is to gesso the panels, which give a protective barrier and ensures my colors stay bright. Next some underpainting, often in contrasting colors to get the major shapes worked out, some of this will be revealed when I scrape back some of the poured paint, which gives an added dimension. I also try to finish the sky, which in this case a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. This underpainting can take a while to get right. Then i get ready for the pour by mixing up the paints, and testing them on paper.

Finally the pour. It can be a one step process, but often is two or three, with some additional ipad drawings and photographs to get it just right. In this one, I was pulling the color down on the sides, so each painting session I also painted the side color. Once I am totally happy with it, and after a lot of conversations with myself and second guessing, moving them around, and adjusting, and just pondering, there is a moment where I know it is done. So satisfying and very exciting! And also a calm feeling of success as I have delivered what I had imagined, often more than I had imagined, because fluid art is so spontaneous and unexpected. This one, as in all my work, up close and in person you can see some interesting textures and effects.

Then I wait for it to be fully dry before I put the final coat of resin. This one went straight into our building’s show so the timing of completion couldn’t have been better!