30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 25

"Following the Moses Voice" - mixed media on board, 16" x 20".  Available on Artfinder.

LAUNCELOT: Ask me the questions, bridge-keeper. I'm not afraid.
KEEPER: What is your name?
LAUNCELOT: My name is Sir Launcelot of Camelot.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
LANCELET: To seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is your favorite color?
LAUNCELOT: Blue.
KEEPER: Right. Off you go.
LAUNCELOT: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much
 ROBIN: That's easy!
    - from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Scene 35

The bridge keeper asks the brave knights three questions each.  One of them fails to be certain about his own favorite color and is tossed off the bridge to his death.  Thank goodness this isn't a real test, because I would fail!

I am fickle about color, often changing my favorite.  Likely because I launch myself into one like a pig at the trough until I've had too much and then can't stand it for awhile.  The same with music, book genres, food.  Now I will come back to things again eventually, but not until I've had a long break.  And this is why I have no tattoos.  Thank goodness for the ability to change our minds.  And our hairstyles.  And our paint media.

This piece is a huge departure for me.  Let's start with the substrate - a type of wet media board which handles quite a bit of liquid without warping.  It isn't as tough as aquabord, but it's a lot less expensive.  Next is the surface treatment.  I just picked up some Daniel Smith gold watercolor grounds and wanted to try them on top of black gesso.  I was pleased at the shimmery bling it gave while accepting watercolor on top of it.  It might be my new favorite toy.  I think it makes everything fancier.  And lastly there are some mica-based iridescent watercolors in there.  I don't think they stood up to the dark color palette and really got lost, but I was intrigued with them and will bring them back out on a more subtle piece, maybe over white grounds instead.

And finally the inspiration and title...from another chapter of Seven Thousand Ways to Listen, this one comparing our "Moses Voice" in our heads (the one that bravely tries new things and embraces change) with our "Hamlet Voice" (the one that talks us out of changing our ways or trying anything different).  It is so tempting during 30 in 30 to stick to predictable  mediums and styles to save time and have a reliable outcome.  But I listened to the Moses Voice and went for it.  Truly delighted that I did.  I'm going to kick that Hamlet to the curb. :)