The Rift - a mixed media painting tutorial

The Rift
Cyndi Lavin, 2017

I usually am a pretty happy person, content with my life and grateful for my friends, family, and what I've got.  This past half year has been difficult though, for many of us.  I don't care what side of the "aisle" you are on, I have witnessed enough division and nastiness to last me the rest of my life.  So what do I do?  I pray, I serve my community, and I make stuff.  What do you do?

The background for The Rift has 3 layers:
Interference blue with a dot of Ultramarine blue, plus water
Interference blue with water
Gloss medium

Let each layer dry before adding the next.  I added a thin strip of blue painter's tape across the upper third.

The next layer of paint was slightly diluted Micaceous iron oxide.  I removed the tape and quickly wiped a thick streak off with a sponge.  I added waxed paper (crinkled) to the upper third and plastic wrap to the bottom two thirds.  This was heated and then peeled off.

Next I added dilute washes of Interference gold to the top and dilute washes of Iridescent gold to the bottom.  To that strip I added a muddy mix of very dilute paints: Quinacridone magenta, Iridescent gold, and Interference gold.  At first I added it the entire way across the painting, but I ended up wiping it off the streak later.

Once it was all fairly dry, I dropped some splotches of rubbing alcohol on it and rubbed to make some worn spots.

Last, I turned it upside down and liked it much much better!


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Copyright 2017 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. The tutorial only may be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.