The Magic of Beginnings: Prepping a New Series

There’s something electrifying about beginning a new series — the anticipation, the questions, the what ifs.

Yesterday, I dove into four new cradleboards.

And for those curious about how I begin, here’s my not-so-secret recipe for possibility:

• I start by taping the edges with frog tape — it keeps the sides clean and crisp.

• Next, I seal the wood with gloss medium to prep the surface.

• Then comes the base layer: gold ink and yellow acrylics. I pour it on, spread it around with my hands and a bowl scraper, and let intuition take the lead.

• Once dry, I activate the board with marks using a water-soluble graphite stick.

• And finally, to seal the energy of those early lines, I press gloss medium through parchment paper over the surface — preserving just enough of the mess to keep things honest.

It’s a playful, layered beginning — full of texture and light.

This is just the start of a new body of work that I can’t wait to share with you.

Curious where it’s going? Follow along and stay tuned. The unfolding begins now.

New Beginnings...