DecoArt Under the Sea Challenge

Are you ready for another DecoArt Media challenge?
The theme this time around is 
Under the Sea 
Be sure and stop by the DecoArt Media blog for some fabulous projects to kick start your imagination.

The winner will receive a $100 DecoArt Gift Card for use in our online store, come and join in the fun. 

You have before the 12th August to upload your projects and the winner will be announced on the 19th August.

Steam Punk Aquarium

Come under sea and swim away with me

Well at least come and play the challenge, any project using DecoArt Media Products

more details can be found over on the blog here

I love marine life and am totally fascinated by the creatures and colours, I also love the illustrations of  Ernst Haeckel and have hopefully captured the vintage colours

I also love steampunk so when I came across this sweet dispenser in a box I knew exactly what I wanted to create!

 Applied DecoArt Media Texture Sand, allowed to dry and applied a second coat to get lots of texture

The Sea life was textured with Modelling Paste & Texture sand along with pearls and seed beads

 White Gesso was applied to Plain chipboard ready for painting

 I looked online for inspiration on the colours and patterns

I've illustrated one of the large Starfish as you can imagine it took a while to do them all and it was great fun experimenting

 Applied Green Gold Media Fluid Acrylic blended Cobalt Turquoise in the centre and Burnt Umber around the edges 

 Highlighted the Pearls with Cadmium Orange

Applied a layer of Interference Magenta to the crab

 Interference Turquoise is just perfect for Marine Life! the Seahorse's and Shark loved it!!

  The main body and elements were painted with Raw Umber

Once dry a heavy wash of Carbon Black followed with Quinacridone Gold for a old rusty iron effect

 Mixed Metallic Silver and Gold 80/20 and dry brushed onto the decorative cogs and around the edges

 Fixed the corals and reeds into the base of the aquarium with Air dry clay and filled with fine grit

The sea creatures were glued onto the corals and reeds

I had to make sure that the glass could still fit over the top and then fix the lid on

DecoArt Products

Thank you for looking and I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful projects you create

Jools :)