I’m still playing with negative space painting. This was an experiment on a piece of screen printed paper that I had in my stash. It looked very organic to start with so I added some darkness behind the berries and leaves. It has both acrylic and water color paint and the paper was a “mixed media” paper that I have never really liked. And after working on it again, it has reaffirmed that I should never get this type of paper again. The paper feels almost like plastic and has a raised pattern on the surface that is hard to cover. I guess it should have gesso on it to start but since it was already printed, I just went over top of what was there. It is still going to take more practice to really get used to negative space painting. I feel the need to plan more as I have a tendency to get lost in the more intricate details. I painted a second landscape but it is really hideous at the moment and I have to work on it more to see if it is even salvageable.
And the rest of the day was spent packing up to go to my class soon. I have more stuff every time we go. Luckily, there are only 2 sessions left. Otherwise, we might have to rent a U Haul truck to get everything to class.
Ruth Lane Art 
I like what you have done Ruth….both the colour and depth you have achieved.
Enlarging the picture I see what you mean about the surface. If it feels like plastic could you also stitch onto it to enhance your design? The ditches/undulations you create with the stitching will help distract from the surface pattern. I have machine stitched on painted paper by attaching a fine fabric on the back (simply Pritt stuck at intervals on the edge just to hold in place until stitched).
I sympathise with the amount you are taking to your classes….and I bet you will still have left something useful at home. When are you off?
Thanks Antje! You have to keep working on these because in the middle of working, they really look terrible. I could probably stitch on this paper but I think it is finished. It’s just a sample or experiment so I just won’t use this paper again. I sent you an email about class.
Whoa! That’s a whole lot of packing! The berries are looking good but sorry to hear that you have a piece that may or may not be salvageable – I’ve been there too many times lately – must be the weather.
Thanks Lyn, yes, the stuff for class takes up almost the entire back of the pickup truck. The piece actually worked out better than expected, just took a lot more work. Not perfect but not awful like it was. I will show it next week.