This is a painting done in watercolor, acrylic, and alcohol ink on textured polypropylene (Yupo). I start out with an underpainting in colorful watercolors applied with medium to large brushes. As the watercolors dry I push them around with a large silicone wedge tool, blending them and pulling pigment away from spots that are not yet dry.

Next I let the underpainting dry and mix white and silver Golden brand high flow acrylic into some Liquitex pouring medium, swirling it around in a cup to let the pigments mingle but not mix completely. I let this sit for a few minutes, then add a streak of carbon black Golden fluid acrylic. I pour this onto the painting in a gestural motion, creating pools, steaks, splatters, and drips. Then I go at it again with my wedge tool, pushing the paint around and carving out lines and shapes from the pools.

Sometimes I let an area dry a bit, then push the still wet medium away, leaving a ghostly outline. I also leave some poured paint untouched, resulting in a pool of iridescent marbled paint. I enjoy the contrast between the heavy black and dark grey lines that emerge from my work with the wedge tool and the amorphous pool of light whites and silvers. All of this exists in a harmonious contrast with the almost pastel, colorful background.

I made this painting during a two week artists' residency at the Studios at MASS MoCA, an artists residency program run by MASS MoCA and Assets for Artists, during the second half of October 2015.