After over four years of experimenting almost exclusively with condensation to make art, I was ready to try something else for a change. So when a local art show requested that this year's works employ a "crystal" theme, I was happy to oblige, and to take them a bit literally.

Growing crystals was great childhood fun, and I'd been kicking around the idea of manipulating the crystal formation process to somehow create artwork for a while. By now I'd learned a lot about controlling how water interacts with glass surfaces, and crystal solutions are usually water based.

A few experiments confirmed that I could confine the crystal solutions, and therefore the crystals they form, to fairly precise shapes on a piece of glass. Table salt tends to blossom past the edge of its puddle just as the last of the liquid dries, which once known, can be exploited for an interesting effect.

Here are some small experimental works that showcase the materials I played with. You can click on the larger photo to see more detail. For more crystallized art, be sure to also visit Bunnies!.