I have been making these background papers after doing a class by Roben Marie Smith. I have enjoyed the process so much, it is all about layering. So many of these are turning out so well that I could see them as a stand alone piece. She specifically says not to see what you’re making as art, but I really just can’t help it. I have made probably 30 of these in a larger format, and it has really boosted my confidence for making abstract art. There is just something about working in a series. I have kept a theme going throughout all of the pieces, even though they are all still pretty different. The color scheme is the same, and a lot of the types of marks are the same. I think my next step will be to try and translate them to canvas. I think I will try this approach with other subject matter as well, there is something so satisfying about working large on paper. It’s reasonably portable for the size (and light!), and if you mess it up, it’s not a big deal. I still had a pad of drawing paper from my art school days, so I figured it’s about time it gets used.

Materials used in these papers so far: crayon, pencil crayon, pencil, charcoal, alcohol markers, china marker, stabilo woody, fluid acrylic, and acrylic paint

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