Melanie Whitaker - Melanie Jade Art

I like to first “paint with paper,” using an acrylic medium, playing with colors, textures and patterns. This takes me out of my comfort zone and sets the stage for some fun problems to solve throughout the rest of the project! Then, after giving myself some fresh outlines, I’ll go in with india ink pens or colored pencils to play with the hues and values, creating countless layers, until I'm happy with the results. Between the layers, I use a workable fixative to set these materials, which adds a significant amount of depth to each piece. Finally, I will go back in to add highlights with a white paint pen or enhance lines and shadows with a black ink pen. When everything is finished, I seal my work with a nice satin varnish.