It's no secret that I love fluid art. I love how it has a mind of its own and the unpredictable nature of the paint mixing together as they flow on the canvas. I always start with an idea in mind, but the paint has a mind of its own. I'm just a guide. 

Gilded Fragments started as a collection of digital experiments. I wanted to see if I could create typical fluid art results in a digital format and with less mess and wasted paint. Using monochrome color palettes and a fluid art brush set for some of them, I created a series of pieces. I attempted to recreate the more common paint pouring techniques. Dutch pours, swipes, etc. Most of these pieces, I wasn't too fond of, so I didn't really share them. 

The other day, I finished my piece "Fragile", in which I was inspired by the Kintsugi technique of repairing pottery with gold. I thought it might be an interesting technique to try with some of my failed digital experiments. I started with some wavy, sometimes jagged lines across a blank digital canvas.

Then I chose a handful of other pieces with color palettes I thought would work well together. I chose pieces that were mostly monochrome. The pieces had some bits of a bright red and gold, but I thought that could be an interesting pop of color. I chose to include pieces of each piece that I liked the best from the original piece. Finally, I added a gold color to the borders of each piece to really create the kintsugi look.

The final result is a fascinating collage type of piece with lots of interesting details and textures. The bits of red and gold that shine through add a brightness to the otherwise greyscale piece. The kintsugi-inspired method of joining these pieces remind me that separately we can be beautiful, but together we create something even more enchanting!

This piece is now available on prints, tote bags, mugs, phone cases, and more! Shop Gilded Fragments now.