"7 layers of black gesso – representing the levels of heaven (although that can be argued – I felt 7 was a good number to use). With each layer of gesso and each day of sanding I did 2 rakats/prayers.

 

I used a new product Golden absorbent ground in some ares of the painting – this acrylic liquid surfacing medium dries to a high absorbency, porous, paper-like surface. Applied over gessoed canvas, it allows for raw canvas-like staining techniques and watermedia applications with acrylic or watercolor paint. Lightfast, permanent, and flexible.  It helped create a crackling effect with the paint that was a happy accident.

 

The paint was a mixture of TRUE pigments (vermilion red /french substitute, cobalt blue, red gold) and fabric pigment powders (Aztec gold, copper, pumpkin orange, cobalt blue) mixed in golden’s acrylic heavy gel medium. I also used another new product – Daler Rowney Pearlescent Liquid Acrylic Artist’s Inks – lightfast, waterproof, watercolor inks in shimmering, iridescent colors (Autumn Gold, Galactic Blue, Macaw Green, Volcano Red and Mazuma Gold). In addition I laid down a high end marbled white/gold/silver paper from Thailand and used fine and course raw garnet with glass beading in a gel medium for texture.

 

With each day of painting I always began with 2 rakats/prayers and often ended with another rakat. The praying was the PERFECT way to contemplate and of course ask for guidance – this was the most difficult painting I have done. It required EXTREME patience not to rush and go over parts that I found unsuitable. But with each prayer – I was able to calm myself and realize the beauty of the unknown and acceptance of however the paint decided to move and evolve. In the end – when I began the detailing – the lines the wrapped each piece of decorative paper and each color – I began to see how the complexity of the piece was forming to one cohesive idea – Spark of Creation." - benMUSA