I created these pieces during my last semester in art school as a research project with a faculty mentor. I came in with the idea to somehow combine my love of watercolors and oils together. After testing techniques, I decided to use acrylics and water on raw canvas followed by clear gesso and oil paints. The watercolor effect was achieved with acrylics by laying loose canvas flat and switching back and forth between applying acrylics and splashing water across the canvas. I often used salt which repels pigment in areas it is applied, to add a greater sense of texture.

A couple layers of gesso was applied with sanding in between layers to prepare the now stretched canvases for oil paint. The gesso combined with the sanding inherently made the once vibrant acrylics more muted. I used the same acrylic and water technique in small areas across certain pieces on top of the gesso in order to regain saturation. This layering process added greater visual interest as a result.

I painted with oil paints according to the colors that were already represented in the acrylics. The oils create a naturally more vibrant and glossy appearance, creating a visual hierarchy between them and the acrylic background.

Each piece represents a moment in time from my study abroad experience in Italy. Click here to learn more about the concepts behind the works.