What inspired me?
An ammonite fossil.
 
Fans of pattern in nature - and especially spirals - will appreciate ammonites.  While all are based on a simple logarithmic spiral, there is much variation to be found in size, pattern, lustre and colour. 
 
Live ammonites ranged greatly in size. Some adult species never reached more than an exquisitely minute 10mm in diameter. Other species dominated their environment, growing to well over a metre.    
 
The first part of this acrylic painting of an ammonite was to create a base of randomly arranged colours. Multiple techniques were employed, creating a variety of marks that would be partially obscured by further layers. Next the spiral was plotted, and then patterned stencils were used in many layers to create the crystal effect. The final stage was to use brushwork to establish the shadows, giving an impression of deep recesses.
 
The title, Spiralis, comes from the Latin for spiralling. An ancient language fitted an ancient subject.