Diluted Saturated Color

I've always defined my color palette as intense but diluted. Diluted, I mean that I never use just one color or one wash of anything. I tend to do several washes of color and then layers of water soluble crayon over the top, then graphite pencils, more paint, etc. By the time I am near completion, what was once very bright, singular and flat has become multi-layered, and diluted with so many colors and washes that add to the wonderful visual textural playground if you will. Diluted may not be the correct terminolgy, but to see my working style and to know that I come from a classical fine art watercolor background, you can see where I might get that thinking from.

This piece titled "Open the eyes to my heart" has lots of visual and textural elements going on within its 8x10x4" wooden confines. Just a simple shape of a heart for lots of impact and lots of deep intense reds. I outlined or grided the outside edges of this piece and the sides of the substrate to create individual little vignettes to play with much like the Gridlocked piece that some of you are familiar with. I really enjoy doing that as it challenges me and gives me a chance to explore tiny spaces but still am able to work on a larger scale all at the same time! I doodled away on this piece and added lots of found element and embellished with nails and tacks as well... It's hard to see from the pics but a layer of beeswax is also added for additional texture and dimension to the piece too... Plus beeswax smells great!Patinaed copper wings are the finishing touch.
Now we have wings to fly!
It's all in the details...

This is a workshop that Iam offering through Art and Soul and am teaching this class in Hampton, Virginia in May of 09. A few spots are left.
Hint(you don't have to do a heart motif if you do not want to)
To learn more about this workshop, please visit this link
Art and Soul- Be Still My Beating Heart