Lounging on the edge

After yesterday's debacle (which, curiously enough, received a record number of positive comments on Instagram) I decided to conduct the experiment again, but in such a way that I wouldn't be tempted to try to make it saleable, and would just explore possibilities.

So I started with an old canvas that stubbornly refuses to sell; just covered up a few salient points to even it out, and then brushed on the dark strokes with a long-handled brush (I never use long handles, but chose that to make it less easy to control) and LET THEM DRY before adding the Nickel Azo Gold -- which, by the way, I find too dark to be pleasing. But that's useful information, too; it's all good.

I smeared the gold, left it to dry, then applied a wash just using the dirty water from the two brushes. It didn't work all that well on a finished canvas, but I could imagine on a bare one it might have been quite effective.

I then added some strokes in black and white with my tiny squeeze bottles, just to give it some texture (not that it needed it with that stripey background, but again -- trying to see what might work, mark-wise (still trying to work on marks).

I don't believe the end result is actually saleable, but it definitely has redeeming features: it kind of reminds me of my daughter, lounging in the sand at the edge of the water... so -- on the strength of this attempt -- I've ordered 5 new blank canvases to play on; hope to pick them up this afternoon. So exciting to finally get some fresh canvas!

... and perhaps, embarrassingly enough, that's one of the things I miss most about staying in place: shopping. I'm not all that into it, but it was always nice to be able to just walk into a store and get what you need. I suppose all of us are being forcibly reminded these days of exactly how much of a privilege that was: I am suddenly remembering those images of all those stout Russian women in their thin coats in the cold, waiting in line for a chance at a loaf of bread... However much we complain, we are so not there. We need to be more grateful for the things we've been taking for granted for so long...