Geologic Abstract Art Using Watercolors And Mixed Media | 2024 - 29

I get a lot of questions about the salt I use to create the effects I get in my paintings. I have not really given much thought to it in the past, but I recently noticed that my table salt is non iodized and this lead me to wonder if this might be why I get the effects I do. If it's not the salt, then what else could it be? I start of this video with a bit of experimentation and then I move on to creating a geologic abstract. I like to keep my process simple and fun! This week is no exception. I hope you'll either learn something while watching this video or at the very least, I hope you'll feel inspired to get painting!
#mixed_media #abstract_watercolor_painting #relaxing_art #intuitive_painting_techniques
Here’s a list of the materials I used for this painting: (*** I now have the ability to monetize my site. This means I can include links to the products I use and when you make a purchase using some of these links I will get a small commission. ( This applies to the Amazon links in this description and KZbin Shopping Affiliate links included in my video. ) Any purchases made by using these links help me earn a little bit of money along the way, so I can continue doing this work. Please note that I will only ever add links to products that I actually like and use. Thanks in advance!***)
* Arches watercolor paper (cold pressed - amzn.to/3VAEO6P) and Canson watercolor paper - amzn.to/3LtdC43 - For this process, I cut my sheets of paper to 6 x 8 inches.
* Fine grain table salt - this is what I generally use - amzn.to/4d2brjE (but please watch before switching your salt ;) )
* Paper cutter - amzn.to/3XqJEVk
* Artist tape - 1 inch - amzn.to/3RjvTnS
* A solid surface to tape the paper to
* Water
* Paper towel (I like to reuse mine to create painting backgrounds.)
* Watercolor in Neutral Tint - amzn.to/4f4WejE
* Watercolor in Quinacridone Burnt Orange - amzn.to/3ycm3xv
* Watercolor in Titanium Buff - amzn.to/467Fxjs
* Iridescent paint in Gold Pearl - shop.kremerpig...
* Watercolor brushes - amzn.to/4bSRE5c
* Mop brush from this set: amzn.to/4cc0UBY (I believe this brush can be bought individually at Michaels)
* Micro mini brushes - amzn.to/3W8Erzx
* Black fountain pen - amzn.to/4d0uvPc
* Cartridges of black ink for fountain pen - amzn.to/3VD1SBN
* Brush pen - amzn.to/4cP4MJV
* Dotting pen - amzn.to/4cZSE8s
* Ruling pen - amzn.to/4f8lUf7
Here is a really great video explaining why more expensive watercolor paper might work better than student grade paper: • What You Should Know A... . I use different grades of paper for different types of painting. There is nothing wrong with less expensive watercolor paper, especially when you are first starting out. However, it's important to know it does have limitations.
The music for this video was provided by the You Tube Audio library: Thank you Jesse Gallagher and Kevin Macleod! Healing by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
I recorded my video using my iPhone 12 and edited my video using iMovie.
My thumbnail was created using Canva.com. Many of its features are free and so easy to use!
** You can also find me on Instagram under gabrielle_anna_cormier_art **
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions or post comments. One of the things that brings me the most joy in being here on KZbin is connecting with you all every week. Thank you for that!
And most of all, thank you for watching! Have a great week and happy creating!
Gabrielle :)

[@ZDD760]

I have always loved watching the paint dry

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hehe! Me too 😉

[@jonisorsen]

Love it! I like to use pink Himalayan salt. The bigger the crystals, the bigger the effects.

[@cpnotill9264]

I went to the garage and got some huge rock salt crystals and wow are they cool! I also used some salt from cupboard which is some canning salt, large crystals.

[@carlaeskelsen]

​@@cpnotill9264 I wonder what flake salt would do…😱

[@cpnotill9264]

@@carlaeskelsen Can't wait to see how that might work out. Thanks for the idea! 🥰

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Joni 🤗❤️ Thank you so much for sharing! I have not tried pink Himalayan salt yet, but it's now on my list of things to try ☺️

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I am loving this feed of comments and I see lots of experimenting on the horizon ☺️ Fun times ahead for all! 🤩 Let us know how you all make out with these experiments. ❤️

[@carlaeskelsen]

Not surprised one iota. I took a virtual watercolor class last week, and without exception, every person who was having trouble with dropping color into a wash was using Canson XL. The instructor and several of us students who were using Arches or other 100% cotton paper were getting beautiful results. That said, I have a theory- I think the difference in salt effect has more to do with the sizing on good quality cotton paper. I think quality gelatin sizing, when really juiced up, provides the right conditions for salt to bloom and react with the pigment.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much for chiming in and sharing all of this with us!! It is so interesting and helpful. ❤️☺️ I am now curious to know more about sizing too! This is a really fun path for me to explore some more. 🎨✨

[@cpnotill9264]

I started with Cansons then tried the hahnemuhle paper and what a difference the way the watercolors reacted! So not really a surprise the difference in salt reactions you had on different papers. I do have many different jars of different salts: rock, Himalayan, kosher, course and fine salts. I also have some bath salts which are huge crystals! So much fun to play with them all. 😁🖌️

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! ❤️🤗 I absolutely love your curiosity and adventurous spirit! The more we try new things, the more we learn and yay for that! Now I'm curious about trying bath salts too 😀

[@cpnotill9264]

@@gabrielleannacormierart You're welcome Gabrielle! You've helped me to delve into my painting and love of nature so for that I thank YOU! Much love, Catherine 🥰🖌️

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

@@cpnotill9264 Much love to you as well Catherine 🥰

[@sueridder4691]

I thought the salt effects had to do with how wet the paper was when it was applied. Cool that it’s the paper. I’m definitely going to have to play more with my “good” stuff before it’s no longer good! Love, love, love visiting with you weekly as you create something new and wonderful. Thank you for sharing your time and talents! And i also really appreciate your lovely spirit and joy and thoughtfulness! 💙

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Sue 💕🤗 I love, love, love visiting with you as well and I appreciate that you make the time to connect! Your kindness is always much appreciated! Yeah, the paper!! Who knew, right?! Well, someone knew and thank goodness 😂 I'm working on my video for next week (it's drying as I'm typing this) and this time, I'm working with Strathmore paper. It's definitely better than my Canson paper, but Arches still seems to have the winning recipe. ☺️

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Thank you so much I really really enjoyed watching you create these two fabulous and stunningly beautiful pieces. I absolutely love and adore ❤❤them both. You are so talented and gifted too. Please stay safe and well too xxxx Mags ❤❤❤❤

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Mags 🤗💕 I'm so glad you enjoyed this painting process! Your kind words are always such a gift and I appreciate that you make the time to watch my videos and connect! It really means a lot ❤️

[@mtnviewpottery]

You are a true artistic educator! I love each of your videos and your insights and instructions are so inspiring and appreciated! I use the paper that performed perfectly! I play on other papers occasionally but I am very lucky because for a few Christmases I have been given many packages of the ones I love by my son and his wonderful wife! I really love watching your videos! Thank you so much!👍🏻❤️

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Wow, thank you! ♥️☺️ Your kindness is a gift I appreciate very much 💕 I’m so glad you’re enjoying my videos and I appreciate you making the time to connect with me like this. I’m happy to see your family knows how to bring a smile to your face 🥰 Art supplies are always a welcomed gift, aren’t they?! ☺️

[@julieboyle170]

Thank you for the paper & salt comparison as I have tried different paper with the salt and thought that maybe it was only the amount of water or salt I used that gave me the different results. Now I know the paper makes the biggest difference. Thank you.

[@suddeninspirations8184]

simply beautiful work, Gabrielle

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much

[@serenityjewel]

Water soaks into the Arches paper faster than it does on the Canson paper. To get the same results, you'll have to use less water or let the water soak into the Canson paper and then apply the salt. Since the salt was applied to the Canson paper while the paper still had water sitting on the top, the salt dissolved in the water instead of soaking up the water and pigment, which is why the resulting texture is very mild.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

All very interesting information to consider! ☺️ Thank you for sharing! ❤️ I do find that my Canson paper dries much faster than my Arches paper, it buckles more when I add a lot of water to it and it tends to dry in some areas much faster than others. I find this makes it more difficult to get consistent effects. As @carlaeskelsen mentioned in a comment below, the sizing of the paper may also be a reason for the difference in the effects between the Canson paper versus the Arches paper. So many factors to consider!

[@triciaschaumann5088]

I agree about the paper. But I also found a difference between Pink Himalayan Salt, Sea Salt, and regular table salt. Perhaps some of that was the size of the grains. Fun experiment. I love the end result. Gorgeous!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Coarse grain versus fine grain will definitely make a difference, but I have yet to try the pink Himalayan salt and this has been mentioned a couple of times so I am even more curious about it! ☺️ Thank you so much for your kind words and for making the time to share this ❤️

[@Lilbirdy-ur6uf]

Beautiful painting, as always! I always assumed the salt effect was influenced by the quality of the paint! Nice to learn something new!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you my friend ❤️🤗 You're right to believe the quality of the paint can also influence how the salt reacts. But, the paper quality does seem to have an even greater influence. ☺️

[@barbriley583]

Where have you been??? Love your work and learn!!!!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💕

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Barb 👋❤️ I'm so happy you enjoyed this! I appreciate you being here with me 🤗

[@ruthjosephson3102]

I really loved watching you paint your lovely “geodes.” I was not surprised that the kind of paper made a big difference in the salt effect. What i have been surprised by is the fact that you sprinkle the salt immediately after wetting the paper and applying the first paint layer. I have bee lead to believe that the paper needs to dry slightly, but not too much and that it was difficult to find that right amount of drying. Obviously it is not necessary to wait at all!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Ruth ❤️☺️ I am so happy you enjoyed watching this process! Thank you so much for making the time to share your experience and perspective with us. The only time I wait (sometimes that is) is if there is so much water on the paper that the salt would completely melt and disappear. But, I'm talking unusually high amounts of water on the paper here. In the winter months, I find my paper dries much faster than it does right now (our humidity is around 90% right now and it can take many hours for my paper to dry). When it's dryer in winter, I often have to apply the salt right away otherwise the paper will be so dry that I barely get any effects. Right now, I could probably wait a little longer to apply the salt and it wouldn't really matter because the water doesn't evaporate or absorb into the paper the same way. It's so lovely to connect with you 🤗

[@Blue-rd5lq]

Ah Gabrielle! This was a great way to show how having fun and experimenting is the way to develop skills. I love the two geode paintings that emerged from this, they make a striking set. What I love most is your laughter when things don’t go as you ‘saw’ them in your mind’s eye and the way you have of turning it into something even more lovely. You are the true gem in this! Thank you as ever. I wish you a sparkling week ✨💫💙😘B x

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Bernice, you always know how to make my smile even bigger! ❤️🤗 I am so thankful for you and all the lovely people who show up for me every week, who are ready to giggle with me and ride the doubtful parts of my creative processes. We learn a lot together and it's such a blessing for us to be able to connect like this. I'm so happy you enjoyed the video and thank you for being such a kind and loving soul in my life. 🥰 The world is so blessed by your presence. 💕🤗 My week is sparkling and you have been a great contributor of the sparkles ✨ Lots of love sweet friend ❤️☺️

[@rubyfisch5077]

Wow! Beautiful pieces! Salt is so tricky to use.....if the paint is too wet, it doesn't seem to work as well, and of course if the paint is too dry, salt won't do a thing. I've experimented with several different kinds of salt with varying success. I do like to use sea salt which has large crystals, but I have a grinder and can get different sizes of salt in the same piece, so that's fun. I didn't think about how much the paper had to do with it, even though I know that better paper is preferred for most watercolor paintings. I just get too precious with my one tablet of Arches since it costs so much. But I've been finding other 100% cotton paper that works as well for a lot less, so I'll experiment with that. Thanks so much for the inspiration! You're a talented and generous artist.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Ruby 🤗💕 Thank you so much for your kind words! I understand what you say about feeling a need to be precious with Arches paper! It's daunting to reach out for the good stuff when it also costs so much. That's why I keep different kinds of paper on hand too. But, one thing to keep in mind, that I wasn't always aware of myself, it that watercolor paper does have a shelf life and the less often we use it, the more it can lose the very qualities that make them more expensive to begin with. I tend to buy my Arches in bigger formats and I cut them to smaller pieces which seems to give me more bang for my buck and then I don't feel so guilty for using it. Plus, when I get better effects from using it, I'm reminded why it's worth more than my Canson paper. 😂 I hope you will give yourself permission to experiment with your good paper more too! But, there's also nothing wrong with playing with other kinds of paper either. ☺️ Thank you for making the time to connect 💕

[@rubyfisch5077]

@@gabrielleannacormierart Wow, in all the jillions of videos I've watched, no one has ever mentioned paper having a shelf life!! I guess now is the time to use my Arches since I've had the same pad for about 6 years. lol It's been out of the sun, and under many other tablets of paper, so I hope it's still good. I think it's been over a year (?) since I last used any of it. Thanks for the info!

[@christianetremblay5985]

Thank you so much for sharing with us your creations. Its Magnifique❤

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Merci beaucoup Christiane ❤️🤗 I appreciate you and your kindness ☺️

[@donnaeaton8670]

This is amazing! You are so talented and such a pleasure to watch each week. I have learned so much from watching you❤️

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Aww ❤️ Donna, you are so kind! Thank you!! I appreciate you being here and making the time to connect with me 🤗💕

[@spoggy]

I LOVE!! tgus, Thank you so much for re-energising my inspiration with this simple but stunning project. Sending love from Tasmania x

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hello friend 👋❤️ Thank you so much for making the time to connect with me and share your kindness! I appreciate your presence here. ☺️

[@stephaniezaidinski5554]

YEP 100%. I am going through this paper struggle right now with Legion 300lb. I just broke down and re-bought the Arches because I am not getting the blooms and color variations that I would like out of the Legion which is MORE expensive. I did a side by side with Legion and the Strathmere and got better results on the Strathmere which sealed it for me!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I haven't tried the Legion 300 lb, but I do have Strathmore and I agree it's possible to get good results with it too. ☺️ I do feel there's a bit of a difference when compared to the Arches as well, but it's definitely not as remarkable as it is when comparing Arches paper to Canson paper. I really appreciate you making the time to chime in and share your experience with us, Stephanie. ❤️ It is very helpful for many of us I'm sure 🤗

[@freshspiritworks4535]

What a difference! I've tried different sea salts and kosher salts (sea salt can have a triangluar shape depending on how it's processed!) It could drive you crazy! I can't believe the difference between iodized and not iodized!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Well, I guess it is all about perspective! 😉 I actually thought the difference between the non iodized and the iodize salt was minimal. But, the difference between the Canson paper versus the Arches paper was remarkable (to me anyway). 🤷‍♀️ There are so many types of salt and really, it would be fun to experiment with all of them! I'm going to have to check out our sea salt to see what kind of interesting shapes it has. Thank you for making the time to watch and connect. ❤️

[@freshspiritworks4535]

​@@gabrielleannacormierart paper always makes a difference! Would be nice if they had small jars of all types of salt - now that would be fun!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

@@freshspiritworks4535 hehe! The two of us love to experiment and play with art - LOVE sharing this with you ☺

[@conniewarshall3595]

I’ve tried Rock Salt (for water softeners) and sea salt…..both different results. Had no idea that PAPER is the key😀! Thank you!!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you for chiming in Connie ☺️ Yes, the paper is key! I have a few different qualities and types of paper in my studio and the salt shows up differently on all of them. I'm so happy this was helpful to you! Thank you for making the time to connect and share this with me ❤️

[@leonekonings2124]

Thanks for the dem. Whether the paint is opaque or transparent makes a difference too. I use this method a lot for backgrounds. Personally, I don't like Arches paper, I have had so many failed paintings with their paper. I don't really like 100% cotton paper, it might just be me, I am self taught so I may be doing something wrong with that paper. Fluid 101 non cotton is one of my faves.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Yes!!! The paint opacity also matters! And whether or not it is granulating also matters! So much to consider, right?! There is no need to think you're doing anything wrong with the Arches paper 😉 We all have our preferences and what matters most is that you have found paper that works well for you. ☺️ I have not heard of Fluid 101 paper but I'd love to check it out. Thank you so much for making the time to share your experience and preferences with us. ❤️

[@suemahoney5431]

Thank you for the salt experiment, as I’m not to good at watercolour painting yet I would use the cheaper paper, now thanks to you I’ve learned to use better materials even as a beginner. I loved your geode paintings and will have to experiment, by the way my sister loved her birthday card that I painted with inspiration from your recent seascape. Thank you Gabrielle

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Sue 🤗💕 I'm so happy this was helpful to you! I own different qualities of papers and I bounce back and forth in my uses of each one. When I first started painting with watercolors, I would only ever buy the less expensive paper because I was so concerned about not wasting my money. In the end though, when I finally worked up the courage to not only buy but also take the paper out and play with it, so many more possibilities became available to me. I remind myself that I don't want my supplies to gather dust and just fill space in my studio. One thing that helps me feel better about buying the more expensive paper is getting it on sale. Plus, I buy it in a bigger format and then cut it into smaller sizes for my paintings. This way I feel like I get more value for my money. I can imagine the smile your sister would have had when she saw the beautiful card you created for her. 💕 Gift like that are so special! Thank you for sharing her reaction with me. ☺️ And thank you so much for making the time to be here with me! Your kindness and presence here are a gift I cherish 🤗❤️

[@suemahoney5431]

Hi Gabrielle your words above are what I have been doing so thanks to you I’ll take courage in my hands and use the expensive paper instead of being afraid of wasting it. Thank you so much for your help and kindness.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

@@suemahoney5431 You very welcome my friend! ❤I watched this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2SVhnmipN2qrdUsi=o4_TjzD-U9GlPRhT and learned a lot! Maybe it will be useful to you too! Hugs 🤗

[@monikaartm.4383]

Merci pour ces essais Gabrielle, de magnifiques créations 🤩🤩🤩. Effectivement tout a son importance, la qualité des aquarelles, le papier, le sel. Il faut que j'essaie avec du sel de cuisine (j'utilisais du sel de bain plus gros). Je n'arriverai pas à un si beau résultat car je n'ai pas non plus le papier adéquat, mais c'est un vrai plaisir de regarder tes créations.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Merci beaucoup Monika 🤗❤️ Avant mes essais, j'avais une idée que le papier Arches offrirait de meilleurs résultats, mais j'ai quand même resté un peu surprise de voir que la différence était aussi remarquable! Hourra pour nos expériences créatives! 😀

[@teresahucal836]

I think the Canson paper is a pulp blend and not cotton. I just love your work, it’s so inspirational.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Agreed! This may be why the difference is so remarkable. Thank you so much for your kind words ❤️🤗

[@love2create62]

Thank you for doing the salt experimenting for us! I did not realize it was the paper that made the difference with the salt! I figured it mostly had to do with the amount of water I had on the paper. I have some paper that is less expensive, that I use everyday, so I don't worry that I'm wasting paper, when I just want to play or practice. I also have four different brands of 100% watercolor paper that I use, that range in price. I tried table salt on 100% cotton paper last night, but I still can't get those big swooshes (technical term 😂) of marks that you get. I will keep trying! 🤷‍♀️ I think geodes are so amazing. 😍 Your painting was a beautiful interpretation! The thickness of the black lines make a huge difference in texture and adding so much depth! You are very talented my friend! The weather has cooled of this week, thank goodness! It actually got down to 58 degrees fahrenheit two nights ago! 😳 I'm ok with that, considering hot temps all over the world! Have a good week my friend, enjoy your painting and your gardening. Love and hugs coming your way! ❤️🤗

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Lori 🤗💕 Like you I have different types of paper on hand and I bounce back and forth in my uses. I tend to keep less of the expensive kind on hand, but when I have it, I make it a point to use it as often as possible because apparently it has a shelf life 😳. Yes!! Who knew?! I've only been painting with watercolors for about 3 years and I still have much to learn so I'm constantly experimenting and doing a bit of research. 😂 Here's a little something for you to consider regarding 100% cotton paper: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2SVhnmipN2qrdUsi=EZpW-l1oHfHRiWzn. I thought this video was excellent and explained a lot. I also got the nudge to use my good quality paper more often so it doesn't end up going bad (and by bad, I mean it may eventually start working more like lower quality paper... Sigh!). I hope this helps sweet friend! ❤️ Amen to the weather cooling!! 🙏🏿✨❤️ It has cooled here too and Damien, Garou and I are so thankful for it! It's raining today and I'm happy because that means I get to be a lazy gardener 😂 We had a 58 F night here too this past week! We slept with the windows open and it was glorious. ☺️ I'm so happy you're getting a break from the heat too! I'm so glad you enjoyed my video and, as always I appreciate your kind words and encouragements. Lots of love and great big hugs to you too 🤗💕

[@love2create62]

@@gabrielleannacormierart I found that out about paper too recently! 😳 Something about the sizing going bad, I had no idea. Thank you for the link, I will watch it. I had no idea you've only been painting for 3 years, that's amazing! You are so good at it and so creative!! I've probably been painting about the same amount of time. I'm glad we both got a break on the weather! It makes my heart sad when I see so many either deal with extreme heat, no rain (fires) or flooding! Have a wonderful week, and I'll "see" you on Wednesday! 🥰 😊

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Brava!😊

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

❤️☺️ Thank you!

[@sherrigittel4623]

Excellent tutorial and exploration ❤❤

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much ❤️ 🤗 I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeanneminton5226]

The non iodized salt is $13.99 at Amazon and less than $1 at WalMart. I love your paintings and look forward to every one.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Yes! So much cheaper at Walmart and at the grocery store even. It's always good to price check. I place links here to show people what I have on hand and I hope people make it a point to look around. Sometimes Amazon is cheaper, but sometimes it really isn't. Honestly though, I wouldn't bother buying non iodized salt because I really don't think it makes much of a difference. The paper quality is really where it's at! 😉 Thank you so much for your kindness ❤️

[@jeanneminton5226]

But, sweet girl, we HAVE to have everything you have so I imagine there has been a run on non iodized salt this week.😊

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

@@jeanneminton5226 😂😂 Thank you for the chuckles 🤗

[@carlaeskelsen]

I think I'll try this experiment with two different 100% cotton papers - Arches, which has excellent sizing, and Tumuarta, which has just mediocre sizing. I'm predicting that it's actually going to be the sizing that makes all the difference. We'll see…😁

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Yes, please do and please let us know what you find out! LOVE it!! ☺️💕

[@donnamorina7846]

Beautiful paintings, just what I would expect from you 😊. Thank you for the salt demo and the quality of paper comparison. That was very helpful to me.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful! ☺️❤️ Thank you for continuing to share your kindness with me Donna 🤗

[@Jlalode]

Beautiful and inspirational as always. After watching many of your videos, I experimented in a 100% cotton sketchbook (Saunders Waterford) with my favourite colours and noticed that some pigments react more readily than others.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much for your kindness ❤️☺️ What you say is so true! Different pigments will also have different effects with the salt. So many factors come into play and the paper in particular seems to be key. I'm happy to see you're enjoying your sketchbook - I love to play in mine as well 🥰 There is something really special about 100% cotton paper!

[@Diane-cv7jb]

👏👏💖

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Merci beaucoup ma tante Diane 🤗💕 J'espère que ta fin de semaine est bien partie! xoxo

[@Diane-cv7jb]

@@gabrielleannacormierart Bonne fin de semaine. XO😘

[@polgara28]

It's lovely to see your smile this week! Gorgeous geode paintings! Thank you for cracking the salt code. I'll bet that's why so many people were having problems. It never occurred to me that the paper would matter. I figured when it failed it was the timing for me. I always forget until it's too late. 🤣 Thank you for doing this experiment! Have a wonderful, colorful day. 🌻

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Christie 💕🤗 It's so easy to forget when we are in our flow, isn't it! I've had a few moments of forgetting until the last minute too 😂 I do think the paper is a major factor, but like you and others have mentioned too, there are other factors that can come into play. I just hope this little experiment drew attention to what may be the most important one. ☺️ Thank you so much for continuing to shower me with your kindness 🤗💕

[@marshakopeika9671]

I was surprised, I have been using salt,I don’t get those beautiful results! I need to get better paper!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I am almost never disappointed when I sprinkle salt on my cotton papers ☺️ Thank you so much for being here with me Marsha 🤗💕 It's always lovely to connect with you!

[@lisabaumeister9943]

Thank you, thank you, thank you Gabrielle! Maybe someone else also asked you if you would paint a geode, but I did make that request a while back. How delightful that you combined your geode painting with salt and paper experiments.😊 It’s beautiful and I am so grateful for this project and so many other great ones you’ve made. Last week in my weekly watercolor teaching with my two besties, we finished off our watercolor ground sunflower paintings inspired by you - we all loved them so much! And this week my sister, and her nieces were visiting from Texas (I’m in California) and we played with watercolor ground and watercolors - again with your work as inspiration. Mine was a seascape with a sun (looking very much like your sunflower, art stones included) over the water. (BTW used homemade watercolor ground- 6 parts Blick brand gesso to one part baking soda, worked great). So much fun! I can’t thank you enough for teaching me to take chances with my art, to trust my intuition (I’m in my infancy here) and to be gentle with myself in the process. 😘🤗💗💐

[@polgara28]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I'll have to experiment with that gesso trick. Happy arting! 🌻

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Lisa ❤️🤗 Thank you for confirming it was you who asked for a geode painting! I get a lot of requests and though I want to honor these requests, it's so important for me that it comes naturally. So when my intuition was telling me the paint mark could easily translate to a geode, I knew I had to go for it and I was hoping you'd be here to see it. ☺️ Thank you SO MUCH for sharing what you are learning with your besties and with your family. 🥲 I have happy tears in my eyes. 🤗 Nothing brings me more joy creatively and as a teacher than to know people are painting and spreading all the joys of painting with the people they love. 💕 As I read your comment, I could feel your joy and that is priceless! I also really appreciate you sharing your recipe for homemade ground with us! It seems like it would be so easy to make and very inexpensive which is such a bonus. I appreciate your grateful heart and kindness more than you could ever know. 🥰 Thank you, thank you, thank YOU Lisa 🤗

[@lisabaumeister9943]

And I thank you for your beautiful heart and for the kindness you create in this world just by being you. I hope you have great satisfaction in the way you have incorporated your training as a mental health professional into your other profession as an artist. The two are very much related - seeing beauty all around you and within yourself and others, and practicing self compassion all along the way. A passage from Thich Nhat Han comes to mind “Standing quietly by the fence, you smile your wondrous smile, I am speechless, and my senses are filled By the sounds of your beautiful song, Beginningless and endless. I bow deeply to you.”❤

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

@@lisabaumeister9943 🥲❤💕❤ Thank you again so much for blessing me with your kindness and love 🤗 I bow deeply to you also my friend 🙏🏿

[@MissOnigur]

I have different weights of paper I use and they are mostly all cotton. Depending on the courseness of the salt I use, determines the effect. Like you, I never know what direction my intuition takes me but whatever direction, it's always a great paint day! I bet if you did 4 of the same, you could have a full geode! A thought. Have a wonderful rest of your week!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I have actually thought about creating two more to complete the geode 😀 We are on the same wave length! There is so much to love about this post and I appreciate you making the time to share with us. ❤️ I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week too and thank you so much for being here 🤗

[@dawnkarasaki6172]

Gorgeous. I never thought about the paper being the factor. Thank you so much for this experiment.❤

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much for your kindness! 🤗💕 I'm so happy this was helpful to you!

[@LulybelleLullaby]

Can’t wait to get my hands on some good paper. Thanks again.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

You're so welcome! ❤️🤗 Cost matters to me a lot so when I'm buying these more expensive papers, I wait for a sale coupon and I usually buy the biggest format I can allow myself to buy and then I cut it into smaller pieces so I can feel like I'm getting even more value for my money. Happy creating my friend! 🎨💕

[@Stacey-barnbrushart]

This gave me a jumping off idea for adding to my art. Thank you for sharing the experiment info, but more so the geode!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Yay!! This makes me happy to have shared ☺️ Thank you for making the time to watch and to connect Stacey ❤️🤗

[@heidihollands741]

Absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing with us 😊

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you Heidi ❤️☺️ I appreciate your presence here!

[@deannamunro8148]

OMG!!! Must get a dotting pen - opens up the whole thing for me - I could not imagine how you had the patience to do all that dotting!! Love how the paintings turned out!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Deanna ❤️☺️ I love stippling, but stippling with a regular pen is just too hard for me now for a number of reasons. The dotting pen has made it possible for me to do stippling without aggravating my arm and it's also so much faster to work with. Plus, if my arm is particularly sore, it's one of the few tools I can also use with my non dominant hand and still create the effect I want. It was definitely a worthwhile investment for me. ☺️ Thank you so much for your kindness.💕

[@deannamunro8148]

@@gabrielleannacormierart thank you for the feedback. I have been sort of avoiding anything with a lot of stippling because I have Fibromyalgia and anything that is repetitive will sometimes send me a bad day! This seems to be the ideal solution!!!

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

@@deannamunro8148 I'm happy to help when I can ☺I find with the pen I don't have to move my wrist much and it is much easier on my hand and arm. Of course, no matter what we use, as I'm sure you know, it's always important to listen to our bodies so we can take good care of ourselves.❤🤗 Lots of love heading your way Deanna 💕✨

[@julieduncan1996]

Very beautiful and inspiring! I had kind of given up on using salt until I saw some of your tutorials. Now I enjoy using it! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us! ❤

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much Julie 🤗❤️ I can't help but smile at your perseverance and I'm so happy you're now having fun with the effects salt can create. ☺️

[@LeahMcKenzie-pc5oc]

Very interesting Gabrielle. I'm wondering if both Canson and Arches papers were the same weight and finish.

[@LeahMcKenzie-pc5oc]

The gold is amazing...Thank you

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hi Leah ☺️ Both the Canson and the Arches papers were cold pressed and 140lb. Thank you for making the time to watch and connect. ❤️ The gold makes me smile too 🤩

[@pilotrtc]

Stunning work! Thank you for sharing.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much for your kindness ❤️

[@lindakuck5981]

These are beautiful and would be a great set! Thanks for another fabulous painting and for the salt demo! 😊❤

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thanks so much 😊 I appreciate your kindness and it's always so lovely to connect, Linda 🤗❤️

[@lindakuck5981]

@@gabrielleannacormierart you are very welcome 🤗

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

@@lindakuck5981 🤗💕

[@christianetremblay5985]

Arche paper it is the best, always desapointed when I try other paper.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I agree! 😉

[@ann-marielofberg1159]

I didn't think how much difference it made between the papers. I did understand it could be some difference, but not like this.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

It's remarkable, isn't it!? ☺️ I see something different with almost every paper I try! Thank you so much for watching and for making the time to connect ❤️

[@user-pv1pr8kr6d]

Hi Gabriella, Wondering how your hands are doing since you've been using your Cuttlolla pen for a few months now? There must be a bit of vibration. Does that cause inflammation anywhere?

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

My hands are doing far better than they were when I was doing stippling using a regular pen, there is no doubt. Thank you for asking ❤️☺️ It is so easy and fast to use so it is far less aggravating to my arms. The pen does vibrate a bit of course, but this doesn't seem to be affecting my arm. When my arm is fatigued from all the wear and tear inside and outside of my studio, I love that I can easily switch to working with my non dominant hand and still get the results I want. ☺️ (I have tennis elbow, golfers elbow and an ulnar nerve impingement that date back to before my Cuttlelola was bought. 😉)

[@joycesnodgrass7068]

Thank you! (I'm struggling with some deep sadness, my husband of 49 yrs. passed away on July 10)

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I'm so sorry to see that your husband passed away, Joyce. 💔 My deepest condolences sweet friend. Travel your grief and sadness with self-compassion and self-love, allowing for all the space you need to feel this loss. I am sending you great big virtual hugs and lots and lots of love. 💕❤️💕 Thank you for being here and for letting me know. You have been and will continue to be in my thoughts. 💕

[@joycesnodgrass7068]

@@gabrielleannacormierart 🫂thank you❤‍🩹

[@sagepremoe1565]

I used 140 lb, cold pressed, acid free paper and had no results from applying salt. I'm wondering if the amount of water would create more of an effect.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Hummmm... That is interesting! Was it cotton? The amount of water on the paper could be a factor to keep in mind. But, I've tried adding the salt when my paper is very wet and also when it is more damp than wet and I usually get something, even if it is not as pronounced. Another thing to keep in mind is your paint. The quality of the paint, its opacity and whether or not it is granulating - all of these factors can also play a role in the effects or lack thereof. I hope you will keep trying new things to see what will eventually work for you. Thank you for making the time to share your experience with us. ❤️☺️

[@avanellehansen4525]

I apply salt just when the watercolir wash loses its sheen. It shows up nest in dark colors.

[@avanellehansen4525]

Salt also reacts better on hot press (smooth) paper.

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on this topic! ❤️ I agree that beautiful effects can also be created on hot pressed paper ☺️

[@carrma57]

That was interesting to watch. It certainly turned out beautiful. I have never seen non iodised salt, maybe it’s just where I live. I loved what you did with the button pen. I love using mine, but I don’t use it a lot. I can’t find anywhere in Australia to find the refills. I got mine on Amazon, but refills were unavailable. I loved your choice of music, so relaxing. Thank you so much for sharing your little experience/geode. 🫶🇦🇺🦘

[@carrma57]

Silly autocorrect! I meant Cuttlelola 😊

[@gabrielleannacormierart]

I'm so happy to see you enjoyed this video! Thank you for your kindness ❤️ At one point the ink refills for the Cuttlelola pen were unavailable via Amazon here as well. I went on the Cuttlelola website and contacted the company and they refilled stocks soon after. I believe they also sell their ink refills on their website as well. I hope this helps ☺️