"Berries At The Gate"

($40.00.....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)

"Berries at the gate cheer the weary and bid them come in." There are certain combinations of things that serve as a warm invitation to go in and see what's inside. Limestone, wrought iron, and red berries will do it every time. There might be other things that trigger those same kind of feelings, especially this time of year. Enjoy the good feelings that those associations create.

This might be a good time to talk about the difference between using Fluid Acrylics or more heavy bodied acrylics out of a tube. The "haze" on the photography pieces I've been posting, of course has been created by adding acrylic to pouring medium and applying to the sealed photograph with a palette knife.....followed by spraying with water until the degree of "haze" has been reached. Fluid Acrylics are typically the best choice because they are already in a fluid state and mix with the pouring medium with no problems. In this piece, however, I used Titanium White from a tube. No matter how thoroughly I seem to mix the two, there are always a few bits that stay suspended in the pouring medium. It almost looks like snow falling. After this happened the first time I decided I liked the effect for the Christmas type pieces I've been posting. (This goes back to the idea that each and every person who picks up a brush will come up with "accidental" techniques while working. All you need to do is observe and make a note.)

Also, for those of you who write with pointed pen... Spencerian Script such as you see in this piece, is much easier to write on this surface than Copperplate (or Round Hand as some call it). You also need an extremely light touch to glide across this surface or your pen will stick and not want to move at all.

These are just a few things to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.