Cosmos

16”x20” on stretched canvas.

Acrylic paint, various papers, various fabric scraps,
used dryer sheets,diaper liners, eyeshadow, tiling grout.

Cosmos began as an experiment using tiling grout as a modelling
medium.
The resulting “ripples” reminded me of a time-capture photograph
of the night sky, and so a celestial body was born.

This piece was lots of fun to make. I started by collaging papers onto the canvas, followed by applying tiling grout (yes the stuff holding your tiles together in your bathroom!) all over. I then let the grout set up a little, and then used a toothed trowel to model the grout into ripples.

After it had fully dried, I collaged more materials (softer, flexible items that would mold to the ripples) to the piece. I then started applying washes of colour until i was happy with it. After all the paint was dry, i brushed luminescent eyeshadow powder in places to add some sheen and highlights.

It resulted in a cross between space and the ocean. It has so much yummy texture, it just sucks you right in!