New Ideas for a New Year!

I have had this painting drawn out in my studio for some while now.  It is a personal painting of a certain time of life.  Each element represents something meaningful to me: The water...emotions. The trees...protection.  The rocks...life's obstacles.  The birds...guides.  The sky...hope.  The girl...learner, traveler.

I waited until my mind was clear of other noise before beginning. 

For another change I am trying out watercolor art board to see how it reacts to poured paint as it is rigid and may not buckle (I am hoping).  

Using new gamboge, rose madder and ultramarine deep for my first pour. Got my set up all ready on the floor, complete with value study...must have map to see where to go. Set up only walked on once by dogs who are now banished for time being.  Very happy to have on my old pouring shoes again!

This is after the first pour, interesting how this paper resisted the paint on the edges, needed some encouragement with a little water spritz.

After the pour off of the excess paint, I added some more things in the water area, which will hopefully leave some interesting marks....feathers from a barred owl which I found out walking.

I also added squiggles in a whirlpool design....from a Zen teaching which describes how all life is little whirlpools in the river and how it is swept away, reentering the larger flow. The teaching is from Charlotte Joko Beck: Nothing Special: Living Zen. 

Now to lunch!