Playing Outside the Box - Illuminations on Paper

"My Song"

Mixed Media Illumination on Paper

Framed 19x23"

SOLD

Most of the illuminations I've painted the last few years (23K Gold, dip pen & ink, with acrylic or natural pigments bound with egg on vellum) are collaged onto canvas or wood panel, but I have been experimenting with either collaging the illumination onto watercolor paper or painting the illumination directly on the watercolor paper instead of vellum.  In "My Song" I cut out different elements from an illumination and collaged them.  It's a more difficult than collaging vellum onto a wood panel or prepared canvas because the illumination on vellum is going to buckle (normally drying smooth).  While canvas and wood panel don't buckle, the watercolor paper does and the trick is to let the collage breathe enough for both the paper and the illumination to dry smooth.  Sometimes, as in "My Song", I get it right!