Take a 14X18 canvas.  Paint it black.  Spread a layer, not too thick, of Golden Crackle Paste.  Let it dry so the magic can happen. Add watercolor.  It's that easy.  Or is it really.

It started out as a microscopic look at alcohol, but turned out to be much more.  A point came in the process where I began to no longer see the cells, but started to see a map.  The way the cracks played with the layers of watercolor, it began to remind me of a shoreline.  And, depending upon which orientation you held the artwork, you were either coming home from a journey or about to venture out to sea on one.  

This prompted what was going to be a 3-piece series on microscopic looks at different alcoholic beverages, to a 5-piece map series. Each canvas started out the same...black acrylic paint, crackle paste, then watercolor.  But, with each piece, I grew.  With each piece I learned something new.  

In No. 2, I experimented with color, but still keeping the soft, pale palette.  In No. 3 I experimented with techniques to create a shallow underwater feel.  No. 4 brought a second watercolor tray and a more intense color.  And finally, No. 5 went in a new direction.  I learned how to handle the crackle paste and that the major crack lines will form along the direction lines left by the palette knife.  I learned how to create an intense color with both dry and moist watercolor trays.  I found that it is "easy" to modify a contour line of a land mass with just some water and a paper towel.  

I found inspiration from my Instagram feed.  Images from photographers such as National Geographic, David Loftus, Onthere, spencer_raymond, and purposeofenvy provided my imagination with landscapes and color schemes that were food for my mind and creative spirit.

As with many pieces I do, they could be oriented in more than one direction.  With lots of looking, and with some help from my facebook friends, I chose which felt most comfortable to look at.  I am fascinated that my works does this.  I often start with one direction in mind, but as the piece evolves, so does the direction.  I am super pleased with my series.  I have my favorites, and I am sure you will too.  I plan on creating more pieces in this fashion.  I really enjoyed creating them.