Original Painting
Entirely Acrylics on Recessed Panel. No mixed media of any kind.
Finished Edges
Rich scene of underwater coral & fish life made entirely with thick acrylic paints and textures to compliment this special recessed panel made by Ruth Collis & her sculpture type of painting style. This is the painting that reminds you of where life thrives in a "recession." Edges are completely finished to show off this extremely high relief of rich 3-dimensional acrylic paint.
Some interesting facts about this piece:
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Most of these items were painted off the canvas on a separate drying layer to form it's unique shape. Once the paint has dried, then the paint sculptures are added back in the painting to achieve a phenomenal sculpted look.
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The sea anemone is all acrylic paint with transparent features like a real one & designed to be flexible & 3D.
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Rippled reeds, fish tails, starfish, sea plants, sea flowers, sea anemone, & sea fan were all made using cake decorating tips.
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Stalactites & stalagmites were formed from a crystal mortar thick medium that gives a sparkly crystal-like appearance & one could pass their fingers completely behind the space on the back side of the column that is truly 3-dimensional!
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A special modeling paste & gritty paint texture forms the bright melon coral. Most other items were made with a thick gel medium.
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Many paint pieces are made in previous paintings that end up extra or unused, which makes a perfect underwater scene of variety like here.
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The sea fan was designed by Ruth Collis as a template for her students to paint over, then transfer to a painting.
Time to make:
Three full days of adding just coral features previously made from the shaping process, with the exception of the starfish & stalactites, that were made at time of painting.
Painterly background brings all sea life in front, to life. Stalactites draw out the unique recessed panel as it stretches across the borders, which makes this substrate absolutely perfect for this type of sculpted painting. Sea grass with red flowers also accentuate the recessed panel curves.
A special varnish used, prevents paint from drying sticky, is glossy, and has UV protectants in it... all 3 features that are hard to find in a varnish.