Growing crystals

As my latest Adventurous Painters course drew to a close, I was itching to have time for my own practice and to explore the ‘crystal’ theme that’s been bubbling around in my heart and soul for a time now. Sometimes I find it’s really good to come back to making simple sketchbook studies in order to really investigate a theme in depth. It’s a great way to further my understanding and build my confidence in how I can manipulate materials to do what I want. So I decided to fill a sketchbook with some exploratory crystal forms.

These simple pieces are surprisingly challenging to think through… juggling the geometry of shape, form and angles and the layering of transparent and opaque paint, while making decisions about the placement and combination of colours and tones. I’m also having to think about the play of light and shadow, and the absorption and reflection of light.

I feel excited though…. and love the idea of making these on a large scale, taking something tiny and rendering it unfeasibly large.