I started doing Abstract art just a few years ago.  I have been a painter most of my life, taking some time off to raise a family.  I combined photography and painting, combining my two passions!

I liked to paint portrait and figure paintings, but put it aside as I was raising my family.  I decided to go back to school just to get in the loop again and relearn what I had lost.  I took many workshops and experimented with many different mediums and techniques.  I kept doing the photography while going to workshops at night.

Two years ago, my granddaughter, Allie, a very talented artist, got me started with acrylic pour painting.  I got hooked big time.  I think most of that was the freedom of not being realistic and having fun moving the paint around on the canvas and seeing how colors intermingled with each other.  I also loved the fact that we could do it together.

To move the paint around I use many, many tools: airbrush, hot air gun, palette knives, spoons, straws (blowing through them) just to name a few. The main thing about acrylic art that I make is that it has a flowing medium in it and silicone.  This helps produce the cells that you see on the canvas.  When the painting is finished, I use a blow torch to get the air bubbles out and to increase the size of the cells.  That is just part of the process.  It has to cure for a month to allow for  all the oils to come up.  In order to glaze it, the surface oils must be removed.  I do this with corn starch.  I coat the image with cornstarch and let it sit overnight.  Then I use a small soft brush and brush away the cornstarch the next day.  It is then ready to glaze.  I apply 3 to 4 coats of a glaze, allowing each layer to dry at least 5 hours.  I have tried resin coating but I can't produce a smooth product.  I have so many that I can't exhibit or sell because they have pockets where the resin didn't take.  I tip my hat to those who are successful with that process.

Within the past year, I have added alcohol inks and acrylic inks into the mix.  Most of the paintings using inks are done on Yupo paper.  The inks are layered.  The techniques are many, and I am still learning them.  I use straws, hot air gun, canned air and an airbrush to move the paint around.

With both methods, there are times where I like to add some art on top of the painting.