Moss — Caryn Vainio

Moss

2021
Ink, acrylic, and oil pastel on canvas (10” x 10”) and watercolor paper (9” x 12”).

Here in the Pacific Northwest there is an incredibly bright green moss that grows on trees and rocks and covers everything, and it comes out at the fullest in the transition from winter to spring. Suddenly, as the light is increasing, this moss is shining through the trees everywhere you look. This series explores the effect this has on me on my hikes and walks.

Some of the works in this series have been sold to private collectors.

Moss 7 (10" x 10" canvas)

Moss 8 (10" x 10" canvas)

Moss 1 (SOLD)

Moss 2 (SOLD)

Moss 3

Moss 4

Moss 6

Moss 5 (SOLD)

Studies

“Moss” took a few tries before I got the feel for what I wanted. These two are studies on watercolor paper that I did before I created Moss 1, the first one that felt like what I was going for. The idea is almost in these, but not quite. Still, some interesting things here that I like.

Sketchbook Work

I did a lot of sketchbook thumbnails before beginning any of the bigger pieces for Moss. I worked these mostly in a combination of acrylic inks and Derwent Inktense pencils. I love sketching thumbnail ideas and these were particularly fun to work on.

Probabilities

Wyoming