Aye Aye Captain

 

I had the good fortune of living on a sailboat for five years which is where I discovered watercolor. I needed a medium that didn't take up much room and was easy to clean up. It is also where I accumulated many nautical charts. This was before the era of reliable navigation technology. I've kept those charts for years repurposing them for light switch covers, wrapping gifts, etc. This past year I've been experimenting with collaging them into mixed media pieces. What I've learned is:

• Paper matters. The charts with a matte, non glossy finish are best for tearing easily. The glossy charts tore with straight or pointed edges instead of the deckled organic edges. Paint also adheres more easily to the matte finish.  
• Land vs Sea: Nautical charts vary in color depending how much land is in the area(usually in tan and green) and how much range water depth (white, light blue, dark blue). I prefer less land colors and more water. 
• Mark and mark making: There are several interesting marks within a chart. Each has perpendicular lines to measure latitude and longitude. There are also wavy lines around land masses and out in the larger bodies of water that indicate the topography or range of depth underneath. Those lines are interesting to sometimes carry out into the painted areas of the medium to add congruency.