Natures’s Light, 12" x 12"

Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper. Round Tondo.

"Alchemy: The term itself comes from the Arabic word al-kīmiyā, which refers to the ancient practice of trying to transform base metals into precious ones, particularly gold, and to discover a universal elixir or the philosopher's stone; which was believed to grant immortality. I’ve been thinking a lot about how this concept reflects my own practice, and the work itself. Everything I create has roots in the natural world, nature is often seen as a key laboratory for alchemical processes. Alchemists study natural phenomena as models for their work, I suppose that makes me a kind of alchemist as well. I think my art draws inspiration from the natural world, depicting the life cycle in flora and fauna as symbols.

Alchemy also deals with the reconciliation of opposites- light and dark, masculine and feminine, material and spiritual. My art explores these dualities, juxtaposing contrasting elements to create a kind of harmony and balance in the work. I think the most powerful connection here has to do primarily with colour- alchemists sought to transform base metals into gold, I am definitely exploring the transformative power of colour in my work. Through a careful selection and manipulation of colour palettes, I hope that my work evokes emotion, and creates illusions of depth and space, and symbolism."

Creating and staying inspired has been challenging, yet Mishel is fascinated by the delicacy and lightness of the colour palette. Her love of the natural world is always at the forefront of her creative process, even when she struggles to stay inspired she creates from a place of joy and wonder.

"I allow the ink to guide my creative impulses and each piece becomes a kind of visual diary. Sometimes, the forms manifest more organically. Other times they can take on an invisible, hidden quality, and yet are still reminiscent of the world around us. I love the dynamic interplay of light and shadow and how sights and smells seem to take over the canvas. Using alcohol ink allows for great depth in my art, it has a mysterious fluidity and is very malleable. I can watch, almost as a third person, as one shape evolves into something else entirely; I add layers of colour and then carve into the dry ink to bring out a rich network of detail."

Toronto-based abstract artist Mishel Schwartz's primary medium is alcohol ink — a medium she discovered by exploring the art scene on social media. Intrigued, she began experimenting with the inks and slowly developed a technique wherein layers of colour are added and intricate details are then carved out of the layers, giving her work great depth and mystery.