Wednesday, July 13, 2016

DecoArt Media Challenge: UNDER THE SEA

HOWDY from Joi@RR in Texas!

Hope you are having a great time creating your "Under the Sea" project for the DecoArt Media Challenge!!! It's soooo exciting.  I truly cannot wait to see your creations. 



Click HERE to enter the Under the Sea Round Up before August 12th! Then, find out on August 19, if you are the winner of the wonderful DecoArt gift card for products from our online store. 



As part of the DecoArt Media Design Team...
I am honored to take you to my little Under the Sea world.
It is a 16x20 painting on canvas board.


Have you ever  - literally - been under the sea?

I have not.  I've been in it but not under it!!! So when this challenge was announced my friend, Sonshine, sent me some links to help me find inspiration. She lives very near the ocean.

The photo below was taken in April 2006 by Lady Reefneck.
It says that these are called "zoanthids". 
After further research, it seems that there are lots of them under the sea in every shape and color imaginable. 

So I used Lady Reefneck's photo as my inspiration.


I began by just drawing a line to separate the sea from the zoanthids.


Then began adding colors for the sea. 

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Cerelean Blue, Translucent White and Prussian Blue Hue (one of my favorites!)


And of course, one must have texture under the sea!

I applied DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste with a knife. Seems like there just has to be some yummy sand texture in the ocean somewhere since it's on the shorelines :)


And lots of DecoArt Media Crackle Paste. 



Then begins the parade of vibrant DecoArt Media colors.
For the deep blue sea behind the zoanthids - Shimmering Turquoise Mister. And for the sand - Transparent Yellow Oxide.






The DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream in Patina Green was the perfect addition to the lumps and bumps of my ocean crackles. 




And here is the finished background...
go ahead - dive right in!!!!




Little by little I began drawing zoanthids and adding DecoArt Media Phthalo Turquoise to add depth to the water. 



Out came the LUSCIOUS DecoArt Metallic Lustres. 



And slowly the zoanthids began to come to life.




For me, every painting is all about the layers.  I like to see lots of depth of color and pattern.  After playing with the Metallic Lustres, DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics were added again. 




Another layer to the green but this time with DecoArt Americana NEON Thermal Green.  Love that glow!!!


And how in the world could it be a Joi@RR Under the Sea wonderland without glitter??? 

I used the wonderful DecoArt Glamour Dust to add some dimension to the insides of the zoanthids. 


BUT... I also smeared glitter - with my fingers - all over the entire canvas.  Did my heart good to see ALL that FABULOUS sparkle. 


Here are close-ups where I'm hoping you can see some of the glittery bling that makes up a lot of the dimension in this painting. 




I'm not sure what these sweet little red creatures are in the upper corner. But they for sure needed something to make them pop.


Can you believe what I used???  
The DecoArt Snow Writer Dimensional Paint was perfect!
Definitely not just for cold weather projects!


And now, here are some more looks at the finished creation after adding DecoArt Media Gloss Varnish.










DecoArt Products Used: 


DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics:
Vermilion
Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide
Cerulean Blue
Translucent White
Phthalo Turquoise
Dairylide Yellow
Yellow Green Light
Prussian Blue Hue
Metallic Gold

DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream: Patina Green

DecoArt Media Misters:
Purple
Shimmering Yellow
Raspberry
White
Shimmering Turquoise
Blue

DecoArt Media Crackle Paste
DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste
DecoArt Media Liquid Glass
DecoArt Media Gloss Varnish

DecoArt Metallic Lustre:
Rose Gold
Radiant Red
Cosmic Blue
Majestic Purple
Elegant Emerald
Brilliant Turquoise
Copper Kettle

DecoArt Americana Neon Thermal Green

DecoArt Glamour Dust:
Iced Crystal
Copper
Black Ice

DecoArt Traditions Glazing Medium

DecoArt Magic Brush & Stencil Cleaner

DecoArt Snow Writer Dimensional Paint

For those of you that have actually seen the beauty UNDER THE SEA... it must be an amazing adventure.  For me... I am quite happy just painting what 'could be' UNDER THE SEA!!!

Thanks bunches for exploring with me today.
It was a fun adventure.  
Hugs. j.  

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27 comments:

Pamellia said...

Absolutely breathtaking Joi!! Oh how I wish I've been under the sea, but alas, a boat ride or a dip in the water is the closest I've come. You sure did give me a taste with your underwater scene though!!! You really nailed that photo, your shading and colours are so bang on, but of course, your textures and depth are so much better than a simple photograph!! Such a talent you are!! sending hugs my friend :)

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Absolutely brilliant Joi. I love,your underwater scene absolutely fantastic take on the theme and I adore the colours and texture, hugs. Tracy x

Jools Robertson said...

Absolutely incredible, the detail, depth and colour is amazing
thank you for such an inspirational piece of Art
Love it!

Jools x

Candy C said...

JOI, this is such a beautiful and colorful canvas from the ocean depths! I love it!!! Great tutorial!

Karenliz Henderson said...

wow joi this is amazing. I couldn't tell which was the photo or your painting. its gorgeous.

Karen Petitt said...

Joi this makes my soul so happy! You really captured the essence of the photo as well as the actual image. I love it. I think you loved capturing that essence too, just awesome art hun! It seriously sings to my soul, I miss the ocean so much and your painting helps to dull that ache Karen x

cal8007 said...

I'm in love with the techniques you used. I'm going to try it myself! Thanks for the inspiration!

Carmen

Brenda Brown said...

Wow, wow and wow again, this is an amazing artistic masterpiece Joi of your interpretation of that beautiful photo. You have created a magnificent, textural painting recreating those incredible zoanthids and their environment, it is so realistic and I would love to reach out and be able to touch it and hold it in my hands, to feel the sand and see the glittery effects. Thanks for a fabulous post showing us your process steps and how you brought it all together, I am totally inspired and I can see more painting creeping into my designs inspired by your amazing talent my friend xxx

Viki Banaszak said...

That has such delicious depth. Thanks for the close ups. I love this piece.

Lizzy Hill said...

Hooly Dooly! That is just impressively amazing! Before you added the critters? I felt like I was in a satellite orbiting the earth looking down ...it's BRILLIANT seeing how you created this. Simply amazing. LOOOOOOOVE the vibrancy of the finished canvas:):)

Claudia N. said...

Absolutely brilliant and fantastic, Joi!
Awesome artwork!!!! I thought I was looking at a photograph at first. Well done! xxx

Barbara Rankin said...

Joi, your piece if amazing. I love how you got all those textures, and the layers of color are stunning! Love, love love it!

Fliss said...

Oh my gosh Joi! This is totally amazing and looks just like a photo of the real thing!!! The texture is fabulous and the attention to detail is just awesome!
Fliss xx

Wilma Voermans said...

SUPER painting, I love the outcome, but at the stage where you said: dive right in......I really wanted to be there :)

Nikki K said...

Wow Joi! Incredible artwork. What else can I say? :) xxx

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Wow Amazing Canvas Joi!!

Jackie PN said...

very cool Joi! these look so 3d- makes me want to run my fingers across the canvas to be sure! heehee xo

mark gould said...

Beautifully layered and a great use of the neons. Really jumps out at you x

Tracy said...

Sorry Joi I thought I'd left some love ... beyond words to say just how beautiful your artwork is... In awe my friend! Big hugs Tracy xxx

SewPaperPaint said...

This is fantastic, Joi! You are really doing a great job with DecoArts! This looks like it just popped up out of the ocean, so realistic and detailed! Great work. Big hugs, Autumn

Carol said...

You are the most incredible artist Joi. You are always so full of encouragement for the many people you support and follow and always so complimentary and kind to others, but this time it is your turn! Your work is stunning, vibrant and full of depth and light and this piece is breathtakingly beautiful. I really am in awe of you! Carol Findon (UK)

Cassie said...

Oh wow simply stunning. just loved watching you work transform into a riot of colour, its wonderful. Thank you for the lovely comments you left for me too. Have a great day loove Cassie x

Pammejo said...

Stunning!!! This is such an incredible canvas and you hit your inspiration right out of the park with it. So vibrate and full of interest. Love it Joi!

sarascloset said...

Wow, wow, and more WOW, Joi! This is an amazing under the sea canvas, and I seriously could not tell the difference between the photo and your artwork, until the close-ups. And to tell you the truth, I love your version so much more than the original! What beauty in the depths of your paints and brushes! I have enjoyed seeing your process! You are such an inspiration! By the way, I miss your inspiring visits to my blog. :(:( Big hugs to you!

Win Dinn, Artist said...

That's amazingly rich, Joi - your luscious use of colour has me salivating. You've created a watery world of gorgeous! xo

DIYDesignStudio said...

incredibly realistic, wonderful work!

Pawsitively Creative said...

Oh dearie I thought this was a picture! Beautiful and magnificent details abound in this under the sea creation! Your skills are truly inspirational and so awesome sauce. Wowzers! Using the snow Tex was a genius idea and gave the perfect pop to the red stuff. Totes amazeballs! Hugz to you muffin!~Niki