The selection process

There are times I start with the "jewel" and build the painting around it, and then there are others where it is placed after the flow and colors are set.  I have the jewel, a piece of vanaidinite, for one of the new 12 by 30's and was searching for just the right one for her sister...I only had one vanaidinite chuck. Teazer thought this fossil would be just the thing..it is now on the painting and looking pretty cool. He sat on my shoulder while I used the cheesecloth and molding paste to secure it to the canvas. It will be his last assist....I have lost my little guy as my art assistant and general jester and entertainer. He had a mind of his own about his freedom and didn't listen to my warnings.....and a car took the right away. We are sad and missing him here in our little piece of paradise.

I found some real interesting and beautiful chucks of minerals in Seattle on one of my excursions into "the big city."  A friend of mine, Carolyn, and I have been learning how to use the public transit to get around...boy, what fun!! We have Orca passes now and can get to Seattle for$3.50.  We found Gem Heaven at the Pike Place Market and this will be my new spot for securing just the right sparkly thing for my paintings.

Bottom line..how do I decide which jewel goes where? .....I just play around with a bunch of them until the "right" one hops into place.  The more I have to pick from the better .... I have boxes of great glass and stones...and now bright sparkly mineral crystals as well. I picked that fossil up in a market in Peru....it is a well travelled hunk of stone!