Mixed Media Mermaid

It is amazing how a project starts off in one direction but then leads us somewhere completely different. Connie Hall’s project did just that. It started as a mask project and ended up as an amazing work for art that’s perfect for your home decor, at the beach house, or any place! When a project does not go the way we intend, why not switch gears and see where it takes you? Sometimes when you stray from your original plan, the most amazing things happen and you create art from the most pure and soulful place. It is magnificent!

I started out designing a mask and needed it on something so I could see it better. I have had these Styrofoam heads I use at Halloween and thought it would be fun to go all “mixed media” on one of them. First I applied mists to the Styrofoam. Fail. The Styrofoam resists the mist, so I decided to add a layer of burlap that would grab the color and provide a nice textured surface. I cut burlap into squares and rectangles and used gel medium for my first layer but it took long to dry so I switched to hot glue. I then scrapped the mask idea and decided to make a crown and use the head as my project. I took a wide headband and added Canvas Corp’s canvas fringe in natural and then took the large shells and placed them on, hot gluing as I went along. I also added a filigree cupcake wrapper on the top of the crown. I glued the crown and decided to paint a layer of gesso.

Ariel Mixed Media Mermaid

When that was dry I took the Tattered Angels Naturally Aged Paint System in Blue Rusty Metal and used it on the entire piece. Bronze Tattered Angles Mists followed in Verdigris, Splash and then Coconut shell. I let the burlap dry and I was happy with the creation but it was all the same color and blended together a little too much. I took cheesecloth and gave it a spray of Vanilla Breeze and applied it on top and around the bottom of the crown. I used a blue flowered vine and painted Cherry Red on the petals and it turned into the fabulous purple that you see. I also added a couple small light purple flowers from my stash. I added a chain with a couple of jewel brads then went back and added Sea Kelp Glimmer Glaze paint on the shells.