Happiness is a day at the beach. This quote is so true. There's nothing more i love than a day at the beach with my daughters. Collecting shells, playing in the waves and watching them play mermaids in the surf. This happy canvas was created with the love and joy a child has with there imagination at the beach.

​I started by attaching an old crochet shirt i tore up and an old doiley table cloth cut up. I used gel medium to attach it all to the canvas. I then covered the canvas in a deep blue acrylic paint. Once dry i covered the whole thing in white gesso.

​I then used Dylusions paint
(vanilla custard and calypso teal). These are fantastic base colours for this ocean theme.

​Then it was time to play with Lindy's sprays. I adore these sprays. Honestly my favourite art supply. I used (glory of the seas gold, yellow rose of texas and bayou boogie gold) to create the sand. I didn't take progress shots sorry.  These three colours work amazingly together. I used a baby wipe placed over the parts of the canvas i didn't want to over spray.

To create the water i sprayed (time travel teal, ocean breeze blue, tibetan poppy teal and buccaneer bay blue). 

Then using a stiff brush i lightly brushed white gesso over the blue fabric creating a sea foam look. Then i added a little Tim Holtz Distress Glitter (vintage photo) here and there creating some depth to the sand. I also lightly rubbed Finnabair wax (old denim) randomly over the blue fabric.

Then i used little birdie sparkle paste (mandarin glaze) over the sand and Tim Holtz Distress Glitter (antique linen) to add more shine to the canvas.  I used shells i've collected from the beach and some beads and charms.
I also rubbed a little bit of tim holtz wax
​(white gold) over sections of the doiley lace and around the edges of some of the shells. However this doesn't really show up in the photos.

I apologise for not taking progress photos of how i created the mermaid so i'll try my best to explain. The mermaid is a resin available instore.

I started by giving her a base coat. I used dylusions paint
​(vanilla custard) for her body, (tangerine dream) for her hair and (funky fuchsia) for her body.

​I first sprayed her body and face with lindy's sprays (bluebeard blue violet), the photo doesn't really show up her shine. Firstly i used (autumn maple crimson) on her tail, followed by (hi maintenance magenta). I then sprayed (prima donna purple) onto my messy mat and used a soft detail brush to highlight her tail. I also used this colour on her lips and eyes. Once dry i painted her hair with little birdie sparkle paste (mandarin glaze) and dotted her tail with finnabair opal magic (pink-blue) as well as on her bracelet.



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​I used letter beads to spell out the quote from the mood board picture.

Product's used from Randomarts:

dylusions paint,
(calypso teal,funky fuchsia, tangerine dream, vanilla custard)

Lindy's sprays,
(Prima Donna Purple, Hi Maintenance Magenta, Autumn Maple Crimson,
Bluebeard Blue Violet, Tibetan Poppy Teal, 
Time Travel Teal, Ocean Breeze Blue, Buccaneer Bay Blue,
Yellow Rose of Texas, Glory of the Seas Gold, 
Bayou Boogie Gold)

Finnabair Wax,
(White Gold, Old Denim)

Tim Holtz Distress Glitter,
(vintage photo, antique linen)

Little Birdie,
Sparkle Paste (Mandarin Glaze)

Finnabair Opal Magic (Pink - blue)

Resin casting (mermaid)

Other products;

White gesso, doiley fabric, shells, beads and charms.