Combined Natural Surfaces

(this is being posted to the Sketchbook Challenge blog today also!)

One of the things that I love about hiking is that you have time to look at the world around you.
Really look.
We tend to miss so many of the little things because we are so focused on the big ones, thus losing out on a myriad of visual pleasures.
I have a folder on my computer that holds hundreds of photos that I have taken while hiking, kayaking or camping. The vast majority of the photos are not sweeping landscape shots but macro shots of tiny mushrooms, lush emerald moss or grains of sand that are clustered onto a dried creek bed.
Kind of like this -

A tiny little world growing on top of a moss covered rock

Long hair moss among the short

Looks like acres of emerald moss but it's really on a six inch rock

Alien growth stretches from a skinny limb

Love, love the textured tree trunks of my favorite
forest by the river

Be sure to enlarge this one

Dry creek bed

Not necessarily a natural surface but certainly
has been altered by natural forces

The peeling paint is a perfect surface to try out
some crackle paint

I wanted to create a panel for a triptych that I am working on based on the combined attributes of these natural surfaces.
Even though it isn't a drawing or sketching, I thought that you all might be interested in it just the same.

It is a combination of plaster, joint compound, molding paste, acrylic paint and crackle paste.
Oh, not to mention the fabric that is underneath all of that - vintage lace, canvas, tulle and organza.

6" x 8 1/2"

All of those crevices in the surface look
just like the rocks, compacted soil and tree trunks in the
photos above

I love the way that the fibers work their way up
to the top after sanding the surface

Lovely, unexpected surprises

I added crackle paste after I took most of the
photos above. I may go back and add more.

I hope that you've enjoyed the trip through my "natural surface" photo album.
And the beginnings of a new piece of art work - a triptych that will be based on one of the sweetest spots in Nature that I know of.

Experimenting (or "The Way That I Work")

I don't know about you, but when I begin playing around with different products or techniques I tend to get lose track of time.
I forget about doing things that I was supposed to do (like laundry, dishes, dinner, showering) (eew).
It's me and my studio.
Oh, and the mess that is in that studio.

I have been working on the bird mobiles and took a break to go to an Icon exhibit at a local art gallery.
The paintings are just wonderful.
Time worn panels of wood  that were showing their age.
Limited palettes that said so much.
My original thought was to sketch while I was in there...but I couldn't when I got there
(this is going to sound crazy) but I almost felt that it would be a sacrilege to do that.
I know, I know.
But the very air within that exhibit was laden with a sense of holiness.
Did you know that the early creators of these Icons did not even sign their names? They felt that this would detract from the subject of the painting.
It was about the Icon...not the painter.

I was so inspired by the backgrounds in these painting (some from the 14th century!).
While I didn't want to start painting this type of subject, the look of the background (esp. the edges of the panels) fascinated me.
As soon as I had a minute (and when I could no longer stand to wait), I pulled out a few pieces of fabric and paper to do some experimenting.
I had one piece from a previous experiment that I really liked. So I grabbed all of the materials I used on that sample to start another one.
And it went on like this for a few days.
I taped small pieces of paper or fabric to my work table and layered paint/crackle paste/glazes in different order to see what type of results I got.
Here's some of my experiments (all samples, not "beautiful" per se but excellent learning vehicles).

Perfect creepy crackles for that, um, creepy thing.

One of my favorite experiments!
Crackled birds!
You had to know that was coming...

Two different crackle mediums with soft gel over the top of them.
You can see the huge crackles under the gel on the left.

Many, many layers of stuff.

The blue around the edges is painters tape.
Gotta hold your fabric/paper down or the crackling
will distort it.

Big, baked earth crackles

Tiny dino skin crackles

Thin layers over collage

More mad scientist experiments 

Love the bird with collage material underneath

Next, I'll add some color to that baby!

New work and a special Sketch In

I've been working on a new project for a (secret) upcoming book.

I am SO excited about this project!

I can't share anything right now

but I will give you a tiny peek of it!

 I really love using natural elements in my work when I can.
Feathers, bones, body parts (!), dried flowers, Spanish moss, sticks and stones...
nothing is safe from me.
My friends bring me awesome "gifts" all the time - insects, wings, skeletons...
I'm always on the look out for usable & recyclable ,um, parts.

So, stay tuned for more on this project later this year!

Yesterday was our first (special) Sketch In away from town.

Karoline Shaffer (one of Greenville's 3D artists) suggested an awesome site -

Victoria Valley Vineyard in Cleveland SC (not too far from Greenville).

We had a great time - sketching, talking, watching, eating, sipping wine...

getting inspiration from every turn.

Check out the photos on our Facebook site.
Several people have uploaded a few.
I've got some to add - later this afternoon.
I'll leave you with a shot of Susan Sorrel.
We both had the same idea!