Air Plant Plaque - acrylic
Your local garden centre has an abundance of new Air Plants this year. How about painting a plaque for these little cuties.
Care for air plants: submerge the plants in a bowl of water one or two times a week. Let the plant absorb the water for a few hours. Remove from the bowl of water and hang it back up.
Between soakings mist with water.
Don't let the water sit too long in the centre of the plant or it may rot. Too much humidity makes the little plant rot too.
Supplies
Old wooden canvas to be painted over
Earth coloured paints from DecoArt Media
Gesso, textured sand, Decoupage tissue
Two paper clips
Two air plants
Paint brush
Palette knife
Tissue paper
Green Gold, Raw Sienna, Yellow Oxide Metallic Gold, Transparent Red Iron Oxide
Paint over the old wooden plaque with DecoArt Gesso. You may need 2 or 3 coats. Let dry between each layer. I let some of the blue show through for added dimension
Rip a few strips of white tissue paper and paint onto the dried gesso. Try to place the tissue paper in a Y shape touching 3 sides.
For added texture spread some textured sand using a palette knife. Spread the textured sand like you are icing a cake. Dab some sand for different texture. Cover a little of the tissue paper for a natural look.
Open up the paper clips and 'glue' to the plaque using the textured sand. Cover the paper clip with a thick layer of textured sand. Allow to dry overnight.
Paint DecoArt Green Gold across the tissue paper.
First layer is opaque Raw Sienna painted around the outside with a stiff brush. Blend the paint toward the centre.
Stroke Metallic Gold paint across the tissue paper.
Build layers of transparent glazes over the textured sand area by painting Yellow Oxide followed by Trans Red. Highlight the textures with extra Trans Red.
Splatter Trans Red in a few places. If you have a DecoArt mister then use it here. Dry
Now your air plants can be rested on the paper clips.
Hang the plaque outside out of strong wind or inside near a window.
