Abundance - Gold Leaf Embellished

This one-of-a-kind version of "Abundance" is finished by hand with raised composite gold leaf in a crosshatched pattern that extends across the upper portion of the composition.

Rather than outlining the tulips, as I have done in many of my other embellished works, I treated the gold as an additional visual layer. The pattern sits against the clear blue background above the dense gathering of plum, magenta, scarlet, yellow, and violet blooms, adding texture, rhythm, and a reflective surface that shifts with the light.

The embellishment was inspired by the application of henna, or mehndi, that I have seen at Indian weddings, including my own. While working with mixtion relief from a fine-tipped tube, I was reminded of the controlled lines created with henna cones and began experimenting with whether I could use the material in a similarly direct, hand-drawn way. The thicker consistency required a different kind of pressure and control, resulting in a raised pattern unique to this piece.

This work began as part of my Kintsugi-inspired series, in which test prints and color variations were transformed through hand embellishment rather than discarded. The raised pattern and gold leaf were applied entirely by hand, making this a unique physical version of Abundance that will not be reproduced in exactly the same form.

Presentation
Inkjet print on fine art matte paper with hand-applied mixtion relief and composite gold leaf.

Availability
One available.