I'm really enjoying painting dragons. All are currently available for auction here:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZthepapercroweQQhtZ-1

These were each created on 140 lb watercolor cold press, using a wide variety of acrylics, lumiere, metallic pigments, and inks. I apply multiple thin layers of wash over each to create a luminous, depth filled and highly reflective ACEO.  Held in the light the images appear to move and undulate with metallic pigments. Of these three, my personal favorite is the one on the bottom. I like to imagine dragons as sort of chameleon like entities that can fade into the background if we aren't aware enough to look for them. Yes, I do believe in dragons. I hope you do too.

Take care & be well,

Lauri Jean

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250133907415

Just as my youngest son, Donovan is fond of Dragons, my eldest named Damien is enamoured of all things Egyptian. Although we tried to have cats (and at one point had six of them) our personal allergy profile just doesn't cut it with the kitties. So, I have to be satisfied with portraying them in various ways to soothe my soul that misses having a feline presence around.

My favorite colors are blues, greens and purples - very often combined. I also love hatching pen and ink in an uncontrolled frenzy that somehow takes the shape I want bringing form from the chaos. My son was critiquing my heiroglyphs and told me I need to work on my form more. He's been translating them since he was about five. Last year we went to an Ancient Egypt Exhibit at the Flint Institute of Art and while all these adults were ooohing and ahhhing over the size of things, Damien was sitting close as he could to the various Egyptian artifacts and transcribing for later translation. He amazes me with his dedication and drive.

My love of the color combination of blue, green and purple began when I lived on Nantucket Island many summers ago. I fell in love with this batik sun dress and wore it everywhere. When I paint in those colours I remember the sense of both independence and freedom I felt as I learned a new place, surfed my first wave, and made love in the sand. What this has to do with this particular kitten - I really don't know, but it brings many emotions up in me -- a sense of remembered self.

This piece is painted on 140 lb cold press watercolor paper in a series of metallic paint washes, and flat acrylics to give dimension and layer. The heiroglyps probably translate to something, but I have not encoded any secret messages in there knowingly. If you find one, I'd love to know what it is. Sometimes our psyches create from remembered images and add more to our work that we could ever have imagined. Some would call it divinity, I call it flow. I'm pleased that I had the discipline to paint this is steps, allowing it to dry between layers while I was also creating the Purple Horn She-Dragon. Perhaps I am becoming more disciplined in my art.

Smile & be well,

Lauri Jean

Copyright Notice: While I am happy to share my process, and my art with you through this eBay feed, I retain all rights to this imagery and associated content. The individual who purchases the original painting owns that piece of my art, however as the artist I retain the right to any reprints, or derivative works from this unique piece of artwork. Thanks for respecting my work. If you are interested in licensing any of my images, please feel free to contact me at thepapercrowe@gmail.com or use the eBay ask a question link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250133906405

I'm not saavy at this eBay blogging yet, but wanted to provide a place for my buyers to learn a bit more about my art. Bear with me on this learning curve, and you might just learn a thing or two about me .... and my family, of course.

My son, Donovan, absolutely loves dragons. So, I tend to doodle them often. He didn't want me to list this beauty, but I told him maybe when it sells I can buy him a new dragon book and that I could print him a copy and that seemed to soothe him, although he really prefers having my originals.

This dragon took me a long time. Hours. Of course, I was painting other things in between. However, I am trying to teach myself the discipline to sit down and actually allow paint to dry between coats to get the depth I want in my imagery. So, this little she-dragon has about 15 different paint applications and washes, not to mention to multiple layers of ink detailing in between. I really fell as if I have accomplished something positive, something I can put my name to and feel awesome about.

I used a wide variety of acrylics, inks and pens from my studio area - which is really either the kitchen table, or the basement when I feel inclined to work downstairs when it's cooler. That's where most of my supplies and computer is. I wish someone would invent a scanner that would adequately pick up metallic pigments. This dragon is incredibly luminous and reflective, and just comes off flat on the scan. However, whoever does purchase it will be pleasantly surprised by it's wonderful glow when it arrives at their door.

This piece is created on 140 lb cold press watercolor paper. It's professional archival quality but I couldn't tell you the brand straight off. I tend to pre-cut ACEO size papers and keep them in a stack for when I'm creating, and often that means may different brands get stuck in the drawer. Well, off to work on the first layer of another dragon.....

Smile & be well,

Lauri Jean

Copyright Notice: While I am happy to share my process, and my art with you through this eBay feed, I retain all rights to this imagery and associated content. The individual who purchases the original painting owns that piece of my art, however as the artist I retain the right to any reprints, or derivative works from this unique piece of artwork. Thanks for respecting my work. If you are interested in licensing any of my images, please feel free to contact me at thepapercrowe@gmail.com or use the eBay ask a question link.