This piece was a still life painting from reference. It is watercolor, on 11x14 Bristol. I really love the contrast in it. I did many of the highlights using a drybrushing technique (ironic given I was using watercolor) which helped give the threads more texture.
The story behind this one is kind of neat. I had been wanting to paint a knot but knew that I would need to use some larger-gauged rope for it, like some nautical rope. I had asked around with some friends but had no luck.
One day, on a hike in the woods, I climbed up a waterfall and followed the tributary stream back a ways - there, partly pinned down by a large log, was this beautiful rope, bloated with water and soaked with silt and soil.
I cleaned the rope, let it set in the sun for a few days, cleaned it some more, and then tied it into a knot and mounted it onto a backing lattice.
The whole process took several months, with a few false starts. The final contrasting took at least a month or two, and I definitely had at least a few weeks where the whole project sat on my desk, untouched.
(Reposted from my DA: https://www.deviantart.com/armahillo/art/Carrick-Bend-495490575 )