2020 #7 Under the Sea: Down in the Depths with Hot Picks {By Helen Chilton}

2020 Topic 7: Under The Sea

Helen has employed some clever techniques to add depth. The finished result looks much deeper than it actually is. Love her use of acetate to give illusion of movement. All the colour and stencilling has created a real 'wow' project with just a hint of whimsy and even a decapitated fish!
~ Keren

Hi everyone, it's Helen with you today, and I've made a shadow box using the wonderful new fishy Hot Picks stamps.
Each of the big fish is collaged onto text/patterns and smaller images so you can use them as is or cut them out as I've done. You can also alter them by cutting off fins or rotate them by moving the eye, so they are very versatile.
For my project I've used a box I already had, deep enough to let me build up layers of seaweed and create an image of depth. I enjoyed weaving fish in and out to add movement. As I had plenty of time, I couldn't resist adding Darcy's little fisherman at the top! Mind you, the fish are nearly as big as he is, so he'd probably fall in if he caught one!

Get out your paints and get rolling.

Then just stamp the fish randomly over the background.

I bent the shoal of tiny fish on my block to add movement. You can stamp these upside down as well without it being obvious.

I thought a bit of sparkling iridescence might be good so stencilled with the That's Crafty! Holographic gel.

Cut to size and slot in. 

Use your stencils PS139 and PS149 to make the seaweed. 

If you stencil over a painted background, it's easier. Thought they looked a bit wishy-washy at first....

...but doodling helped them stand out.

The fish are stamped on glossy card and coloured with Ecoline Brush pens.

I wanted to add to the illusion of movement so stamped the tiny fish on acetate so I could thread them in and out of the seaweed.

These fish have definitely got character! Using the watercolour pens, means you can blend the colours as you go. You could also add a bit of clear Stickles here and there  to create more sparkle. 

Just for fun, I cut one of the fish in half to give the illusion of it swimming from one side of the box to the other. If you don't have a suitable box, use a canvas - you can still build up layers and weave the fish in and out. 

In these difficult times, just enjoy yourself!

Stay safe and well.

Helen

Blog: A Splash of Colour