This Manakin bird painting was created with the idea of the bird first, beginning with an outline of the bird shape. Layer upon layer of the mixed media piece was built from there. The colours and texture (including crinkled tissue paper) were added in stages while the details of the bird were continually enhanced.
For this white bird painting, the mixed media background was created first with no plan. The bird shape was "found" in the random lines and shapes of the paint and paper. One little piece of text looked like a wing, a head and body shape were found and the bird came to life.
Both methods pose different challenges and the results are always unexpected.
