I love peacock feathers and have been looking to use the Fabulous Pretty as a Peacock Feather Stencil for sometime. I wanted to capture the beautiful metallic and iridescent quality of the feathers, which in turn create a dramatic halo effect to surround the beautiful face.

Items Needed:

• DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Modeling Paste - White (DMM21-71)
• DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Gesso - White (DMM18-71)
• DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Clear Matte Medium (DMM20-71)
• DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Crackle Paste - White (DMM17-71)
• DecoArt Media Misters - Shimmer Violet (DMM10-30)
• Americana Stencils 12x12 - Dandelion (ASMM16-K)
• Assorted Paint Brushes
• "Pretty As A Peacock" Stencil
• Spellbinders Peacock Feathers
• Canvas
• Assorted Papers
• Various Pattern Stencils
• Palette Knife

Instructions:

Apply torn paper to a Canvas with Matte Medium, I was using an existing canvas that I had already applied colour to which wasn't necessary but it added a colour cast!

Apply Modeling Paste and Crackle Paste through a variety of patterned stencils.

Apply Modeling Paste directly and texture with a palette knife, allow to dry for 2 hours.

I planned the layout and applied Gesso to the area where the face was going to be located, once dry I stenciled the face with Carbon Black Media Fluid Acrylic.

I cut approximately 30 feathers with the Spellbinders machine and die and applied with Matte Medium. Then I applied a coat over them and the face to seal.

I started by applying watered down Media Mister Violet, darkened around the edge with Quinacridone Violet.

Then worked in Dioxazine Purple blending one colour to the next.

Repeat with Carbon Black.

Followed with Phthalo Blue working out to the edge of the canvas.

I started to wipe back the paint on the raised areas with a baby wipe whilst still wet

If you wipe back to much just brush a little more colour, I also highlighted the tips of the feathers with Cobalt Teal Hue.

Once dry the next step is to dry brush the raised texture areas with Metallic Silver.

The colours were toned down with a wash of Carbon Black. I applied lots of the Silver Metallic to the feathers, building up gradually until desired effect is achieved.