Playing with Golden's Crackle Paste...

Randomly perusing fine arts on line, I ran across a small painting by Carol Nelson that used hand-made papers and Golden's Crackle Paste. I was intrigued. So, I went to Jerry's Art-a-Rama and bought some. I happened to have a 12 X 12 Ampersand mounted artist panel...and I decided to play. I started with a collage of hand-made papers. I formed the heart with the Crackle Paste on top of rough brown serrated packing paper (looks a bit like a honeycomb; Cheap Joe's uses it to wrap brushes). Then I washed it. It took three days to begin to dry for the cracks to begin to appear (this was during a few days of monsoon-like rain, lengthening the drying process). I was so excited when it began to crack.

Artists using this product, with demonstrations on-line, recommended varnishing the Crackle Paste to preserve the cracks in the finished form. I did this. As it continued to dry, the cracks got bigger and deeper...very exciting. I decided to add paint, still not completely satisfied with it. I decided to chill out and step back for a bit and really look at the form. This led to a decision to add the Crackle Paste to the background, which, because of its opacity, diluted some of the backgroung color...a good move. Then I went back and tinted the cracked background. Now I have to make decision as to whether I will draw back into it or leave it alone.

So...here it is. What are your thoughts...?

A few pencil marks, a bit of Sharpie line drawing, and oil pastel, and then I neutralized it all with a grey-blue glaze...it's done! No more experimenting...

Well...I couldn't stand it.  I just had to do one more thing, so I added an old gold glaze to tone down the sweetness of the blue-grey.  I've actually framed it...it's done...!