I've completed another piece in my series and I'm loving three things: patterns, gilding paint, and crystals.

I've always struggled with how to handle my negative space in drawings. I've often just left it blank or shaded with graphite powder which is feeling pretty boring these days. I've been thinking a lot about this approach lately, and decided to push my ideas and incorporate more patterns in my work. I think I've been drawn to patterns, especially the honeycomb pattern, because it reminds me that beauty can be born from chaos. This is an idea I like to live by when I look at my messy house, piles of laundry, screaming kids, and half finished drawings; beauty may just be lurking under that week old sandwich left in my son's room. Maybe.

This piece was my first go at ever drawing crystals. Their intricacy was rewarding and I enjoyed that I didn't have to stick too close to my reference. I will revisit them as a subject soon I'm sure. I'm also still loving the gilding paint. I love how it transforms the drawing depending on the light source. I can't get enough of it for now.

This piece was completed on 19" x 25" Strathmore 400 Series Toned Grey Paper, with Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Le Plume Markers, and Martha Stewart Gold Gilding Paint.