Amethyst Haze, in Acrylic

Yesterday I shared a TikTok video showing the creation of Amethyst Haze, and while watching it back before posting, I realized something... I was sharing my acrylic painting process for the first time.

Most people who have followed my work are familiar with my gel pen mandalas, but my approach to acrylic paintings is a little different than what many expect. Instead of painting the design with a brush, I fill henna cones with acrylic paint and use those to create the mandala.

This technique creates a subtle raised texture in the outlines that you don't get with a brush alone. It also gives me a level of outline precision that comes from over ten years of experience as a henna artist. The cone feels natural to me, so I can vary between delicate, fine lines and bolder elements with a control I just don't have with a paintbrush.

As a self-taught artist, I've always just used techniques and tools that made sense to me, maybe not the way others would have done it but that's ok, its my art and should be individual.

Every painting becomes a blend of familiar techniques and new ideas. Amethyst Haze is no exception, the balance the purples creating the background and the soft gray mandala has layered detail because of the raised acrylic mixed with traditional brush strokes.

If you'd like to see how this piece came together, you can watch the full process video and final reveal on my TikTok.

Video