Origins: Celebration

Materials

• Arches 140# hot press watercolor paper
• Creepy Cobwebs-threaded dacron cobwebs used for Halloween decorations
• Lightfast inks (including white)
• White gouache paint
• Transparent watercolors

• Spray bottles for the inks
• Watercolor pencils
• Gatorboard
• Natural and geometric cutouts
• Windex for painting resists
• Pushpins

1Again Beckwith begins by spreading the Creepy Cobwebs across watercolor paper. The surface and webbing are sprayed with water, and lighffast inks are then sprayed onto both the paper and cobwebs. Beckwith again develops the circle images and enhances alternating bands of very light- to medium-intensity white layers. Each band has some intensity variation to prevent the flattening of depth that comes with even application of white. In some areas, for example to the left of the largest circle, she makes the transition between shapes invisible. The white layers are allowed to dry.

2To develop flowing shapes Beckwith paints diluted white gouache in varying shapes that together create flowing forms. The strong diagonal forms create a contrast and tension with the bars.