The inspiration for this ‘Bathing Belle’ came from an [unused] sticker in my Craft Room. I’ve had this lovely sticker for about 7 years – bought in a sale at Hobby Craft here in the UK. It’s quite large compared to this little watercolour painting. I came across the sticker a few days ago and thought it would make a lovely image on a little ATC (sized at 2.5″x 3.5″). However … I changed the style of the dress part of her bathing suit.
Originally the dress was more puffed up and ’rounded’ in it’s design, but I wanted to make a play on words for the Bathing BELLE (Bell) so thought I could change her slightly and turn her actually into a Bell shaped Bathing Belle.
I changed her hair also, from a deep, warm brown colour, to a salt and pepper (or rather more salt than pepper) bathing beauty. After all, Grandmas, Nanna, Nanny and (in my case) Grammy’s can be just as glam as any young thing, so I thought I’d give a shout out for those of us who have a bit of stray grey going on!
The last photograph above, was taken with a light from two desk lamps – one either side of the painting – shining onto the ATC and mount. However the next photo has no desk lamps on, as I wanted to use the flash on the camera to try to make the ‘Starry’ water colours put in an appearance and I think I managed it …. take a peep …
… if you compare this last photograph with the one before it, you’ll see that the sea has sparkling white horses to the ocean. The sand has some sparkling wet sand, and our Bathing Belle has a twinkling sea-horse hair ornament. This sparkle and twinkle comes from using Kuretake, Gansai Tambi Starry water-colour paints. When they dry these paints have a fabulous twinkle and sparkle to them.
Because I changed the shape of her dress, to make her look more ‘Bell’ shaped like, if you use your imagination now and cut the ATC at where her dress ends at the bottom … you’d find that you had a Bell which you could ring by grasping hold of her head! LOL!!
But of course … we’re not going to do that. We’re not savages!! Grief! 😀
Bit of paint. Scrap of Watercolour Card. Tub of water. And that’s all there was to it!
Happy Sunday! May today find you happy, healthy and with few jobs or chores to do, but lots of happiness waiting for you to discover it.
Sending you Sunday Squidges, and lots of lovely love ~
The Art of Cobwebs 