Layering is where my work comes alive. Whether I’m using watercolor, acrylic, or digital tools, I find myself drawn to the way colors and marks overlap, blur, and spark new meaning when placed together.
T
his piece (pictured above) began with a flood of warm washes — yellows, reds, and pinks colliding in ways I couldn’t fully control. From there, I carved in structure through lines, almost like ribs or waves, that gave direction to the fluid color. Finally, I added dots: tiny bursts stitched across the surface like constellations, giving rhythm and energy to the whole.
That’s what I love about layering — each material brings its own voice.
-
Watercolor surprises me with its softness and spontaneity.
-
Acrylic offers boldness and physical presence.
-
Digital layers expand the possibilities, multiplying patterns and textures endlessly.
-
Pencil and dots are what connect it all together — grounding the flow, highlighting details, and adding movement.
When these layers interact, something beyond me takes shape. They create depth, rhythm, and a sense of time passing. And just like in life, the layers aren’t always neat. Some are messy, some are hidden, but together they tell a fuller story than any one layer could on its own.
For me, layering is more than a technique. It’s a reflection of being human — built of memory, emotion, joy, struggle, and growth. This painting is just one record of that truth, but every piece I make carries its own layered history.
