Alcohol inks in combination with pen and mica gold accents come together to create organic forms and shapes in this original painting. I work with alcohol inks in a give-and-take fashion. I like to first follow the ink's lead, allowing naturally occurring shapes and lines to unfold. With a paintbrush and pen, I then add controlled lines and shading to enhance the ink's natural expression. I go back and forth while I'm painting, giving space for the ink to naturally react and then applying my own controls, until the image(s) and overall composition coalesce.