Well, as many of you know, once I start on a theme, I work in groups. Once I finished my first mermaid piece, I started making another and then another. I am presenting them now.
The second mermaid, I call "Deep Waters". She was inspired by the luscious embroidered black fabric that I had in my large stash. I used Arley Beryhill's mermaid pattern as the starting point. I used a cotton batik fabric for the flesh tones of her skin and then "skinned" her face after needle sculpting (the technique I learned from Angela Jarecki).
I was very pleased with the results! Next came the finishing touches of beading and trims, hair and her glamour mirror and a lovely shell seat. Here she is:
Next, I wanted a full-figured mermaid. Mermaids come in all shapes and sizes too!
I choose a pattern by Cyndi Mahlasdt (I took a workshop with her in the early 2000's). I used a "doll skin" fabric (stretchy) for her skin and a bathing suit fabric for the body tail. I just love this full figured mermaid gal:
I went to town on her embellishments, especially on her tail fin, back and headdress:
 |
| Tail fin with organza free-motion embroidery and hand beading plus added shells |
 |
| Back with rouched and beaded trim and hand-dyed gauze shawl |
 |
| Her face has purple glass eyes with added eyelids and nose details for that deep ocean fishy look. |
Can you tell that I love to add details to my work? Of course this mermaid "Amethyst" demand, in her gentle come hither way, to have a shell throne and I complied.
I mad the throne using a wooded chair that was past it's prime (broken legs and spines) and used wire to reshape it into a throne. I covered the chair and added shape by adding aluminum foil. I then used plate cloth (available in craft stores) to cover the entire throne with strips of the cloth to strengthen the structure. I waited for it to dry and then painted it and used celluclay (craft stores again) to add shells and pearls as part of the throne:
 |
| Back of throne showing velvet butterfly and organza seaweed |
 |
| Side view showing embedded shells. |
Well, I loved, loved making my mermaids and they will be featured in a local fine art show at the end of April (April 28-30) here in Sidney, BC. I am providing the link to the show should you be in the Greater Victoria area and want to visit my mermaids (and many more pieces!).
http://spacsociety.com/member-benefits/spring-show/
Bye for now and hope to see you at the Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Society Fine Arts Show.
