Assembling supplies for a new art collection is as much of a joy for me as it is to prepare for travel or to walk through a season of preparation such as Advent. I’m drawn to (pun intended?!) to the anticipation of what is to come. This project would include combining watercolors and acrylics. That was a first for me! The plan included details being added with colored pencil, graphite, pastels and maybe some mark making with a random wooden skewer.

Next step involved making the papers that would then be deconstructed for the collage making. This is the best kind of artist’s play. It is a back and forth process of application of paints, moving them around, making marks, and having unexpected marks appear, The synchronicity creates depth and movement.

Dirty hands are not one of my favorite feelings but the awareness of the pastels on my finger tips reminded me of the fun, unburdened mark making that had just transpired.

These Grumbacher pastels have been in my arsenal since high school. I’m not too old (grin) to recall when my mother bought for me! They were on the pricer side of my young art supply collection. Using them now I recall the support my parents showed me with the supplies I felt called to use during that developmental stage of my life.

By the way, don’t you love how you can see the layers in this up close image? Transparency in combination with opaqueness is rendered from the freedom of showing up and creating. This can sometimes be scary for an artist but in the end the exploring and experimenting is good.

It’s always fun to image where the art will hang after it leaves the studio! Is this mountain collection perfect for your home, office, or getaway retreat?