Is It Collaboration?

Marilyn's Bouquet

Watercolor, 15 X 12

Paris in May

Watercolor, 15 X 10

About a year and a half ago my friend, a fellow artist, passed away suddenly. I probably mentioned it. As a result, I purchased many of her art supplies and was given things that she had left behind. Among them were some half sheet paintings that we used to call, "starts". They were beginnings of paintings that we would start by wetting the paper and letting the pigments flow, then drop in salt or alcohol or water, lay down plastic wrap or wax paper, and just play and leave to chance the outcome. Then the piece would be put aside until we wanted to work on it again. 

These two paintings are from one of Marilyn's starts. I got it out and looked at it one day and it was begging to be finished. As I worked on it I could see that it was two paintings. The larger piece became the bouquet in a vase; to the smaller painting I added some collage elements. The colors she had chosen were so vibrant, it was a lot of fun to work on and made me think fond memories of her and the fun we had painting together with our art friends.