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Tiki Central / Other Crafts / MadDog Mike's Platterful of Pupule - Pele Fence Hanger

Post #807226 by MadDogMike on Sat, Jan 7, 2023 11:57 AM

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OK my carved Maori Wheku has inspired me to try painting one. I have finally gotten to the point where I consider myself a ceramic artist (after 15 years LOL). But I'm not much of a painter, I can do fair if I carefully select my subjects and techniques. But my wife paints very well - so I challenged her to a Paint Throwdown! You know, if you want some street cred, you go into bar and challenge the biggest ugliest guy to a fight! Kinda like that. I have a feeling I'm gonna get my ass kicked :D The rules are a painting that is Maori inspired and features Abalone/Paua shell. If you want to get in on the challenge, post your progress and/or finished painting here. No prizes, no judges, and no swap - just a fun chance to challenge yourself.

My plan is for a black velvet style painting on a regular black canvas. A close up of a Wheku or Heitiki featuring a large Abalone/Paua eye.

67231-01-1000_1 This is my target

image000000 Supplies for todays experiments. Black foamcore and acrylic metallic paint. Zinc, Festive Green, Berry, Peacock Pearl, and Ice Blue

Paua 1
#1 Solid teal background, lines of other colors added on while teal wet, swirled with the tip of a pencil, then smoothed some with a brush

Paua 2
#2 Drops of all colors to the outside of the circle spread to the middle with a brush. A few random drops added and swirled with brush

Paua 3 #3 Drops of color placed all over the circle and spread with brush . Swirls of Zinc added with a syringe and needle.

Paua 4
Colors lightly swirled off the canvas on a palate then brushed on

Overall impressions - I thought I had picked up black but the Zinc is a silver. I will try adding some regular black at home later (I'm at work today). The colors are too thick and too dark. Will try to add some Flotrol/Pouring Medium and/or white pearl paint. I'll need to use some sort of mask or Frisket to get the edges cleaner.
#1 shows some potential if I can resolve the thickness and darkness issues. I think I used a little too much purple.
#2 seems overmixed
#3 shows potential, will look better with black instead of silver
#4 fail, way overmixed

[ Edited by MadDogMike on 2023-01-07 12:06:08 ]