The Fine Art of Allowing: Inside My Crystal Watercolor Technique

Every painting I create is a conversation between earth, water and the present moment. My process begins long before the first drop of water meets the surface. It begins with choosing the right crystals—not simply for color, but for synergy and energetic intent.

Each artwork starts with an intentionally curated formula of gemstones whose energies and natural behaviors complement one another. These crystals are professionally ground into an ultrafine powder, and from there, I take the raw pigment and handcraft it into watercolor paint. Using a traditional muller and slab, I blend each crystal powder with a specialized binder to create professional-grade, ready-to-use watercolors that hold the true essence of the stones.

What happens next is where the alchemy begins.

I paint on a non-absorbent media (Yupo) , a surface that keeps the water and pigment on top—allowing movement, tension, bloom, and dispersion to unfold freely. The crystal pigments slide, swirl, collide, and separate across the surface, revealing their natural personalities. On this media, water doesn’t sink; it dances. The paint doesn’t settle; it negotiates. This is the space where each crystal pigment expresses its full geology and spirit.

My approach is rooted in intention, observation, and restraint.I seldom move the brush back and forth. There is no forcing. Instead, I allow a single direction of movement—a tilt, a line, a sweep—to inform the composition. The water becomes the conductor, guiding the pigments until they naturally come to rest. The painting continues to evolve until the very moment the water dies on the surface.

This is a practice of allowing, not controlling.

Once the piece is fully dry, I return with fresh eyes.

The final step is a second act of co-creation: cropping. By refining the frame, I highlight the most powerful, resonant moment the pigments created on their own. It’s about seeing what wants to be seen—honoring the composition that revealed itself rather than imposing one.

From start to finish, this process is equal parts geology, science, and metaphysics.Intentionally selected crystals. Elemental movement. Time, space, and quiet intervention.

Each painting becomes more than a visual piece—it becomes an energetic tool, a collaboration with Earth’s materials, and a reminder of the beauty that emerges when we allow.

" Luminescent Heart" 4.5" by 4.5" matted and framed to `12" by 12"