Mold:  Nowell’s #’s 3347 – 3352

Paint: Nowell’s Showcase Colors - Opaque Stain   Artist Translucents
Brushon Glaze Coat   Gold & Silver Metallic Powders

Brushes:  Silver Falcon

Technique:  Sherry L. Porter 

1. To properly prepared bisque, apply 2 smooth, even coats of CTU-8.  Use either a “taklon” or soft “ox hair” brush.  Be sure to allow ample drying time between coats and before proceeding to the next step.  (You may find it helpful to tint the first coat of CTU-8 with a small amount of CT-17 Eggplant, to give it a slight purple tint.  It is much easier to get proper coverage using this process.)
2. Check the piece to be sure that you have completely covered the bisque by brushing a small amount of CTA-4 Antiquing Solution over the entire piece.  If any area has not been sealed, it will show as a discolored spot at this point.  Simply dry the area with a soft cloth and re-apply CTU-8.
3. You will use an “antiquing” type process to decorate the piece.  Keep in mind that each time you apply a new color over an existing color, you will basically be replacing or just highlighting the previous color, depending upon the technique used.  Antiquing is done using a hog bristle brush, commonly referred to as a “dry brush”.  Apply paint using the size brush most appropriate to the area in which you are working.  Wipe back with a soft, absorbent, lint-free cloth.  Old tee shirt material or blue Shop Towels work very well.
4. Place a small amount of CTB blending media onto one area of your pallet.  Place a small amount of the assigned color in a separate area.  Tip the brush into the blending media, then into the antiquing color.  Working in sections, brush color on, careful to spread it out as you go (a little bit of paint goes a LONG way!!), pat to absorb the excess oil and set the color, then wipe back to expose detail, highlight and create natural shadows.  During this process, if the color looks greasy and is wiping off too much, use less blending media.  If it is “grabbing” too much, use a bit more blending media.  Additional lightening can be done with a small amount of Antiquing Solution on your cloth, wiping gently until desired tone is achieved.
5. To “rouge” color, pick up a small amount of color on your cloth, work it into the cloth using a circular motion on a non-porous surface (glazed tile, shinny side of freezer paper etc.).  This will leave only pigment on the surface of the cloth.  Gently rub the color on to the assigned area.  Repeat this process if a brighter color is desired.

• “Shifty Shark”:

1.  Place about 1/4^th tsp. of CT-01 White Out on your pallet.  Tint with 1 drop of CT-02 Dolphin.  Mix in approx. 1/8^th tsp. of Silver Metallic Powder.  Add 4 drops of blending media.  This mixture should be enough to antique the Shark, Blowfish, Jellyfish and the Clownfish.  Remember, spread the paint out before wiping back, a little bit goes a LONG way!
2. Lighten the belly portion with a bit of antiquing solution on your cloth.
3. Refer to photo for the placement of CT-03 Black Tie.  Use a Q-Tip, lightly moistened with antiquing solution to wipe off his teeth.
4. Spray seal with Gloss Spray.  All of the Sea Critters eyes were completed using the same process; Mix equal parts Brush on Glaze Coat and Gold Metallic Powder.  Apply this to the eyes.  Outline of eyes and pupils are CO-109 Raven Black, with a CO-101 Snow Cap.  Spray with one more coat of Gloss Spray.

• “Jolly Jellyfish”:

1. Antique with the same color as you did the shark.  Lightly rouge random areas with CT-14 Deep Teal and CT-17 Eggplant.  The face area is rouged with CT-04 Magenta.
2. Using your finger, carefully rub on Silver Metallic Powder over the entire piece.
3. Spray seal with Gloss Spray and complete eyes and features as listed above

• “Puffy” Blowfish:

1. Antique with the same color as you did the shark.  Lighten the belly portion with a bit of antiquing solution on your cloth.
2. The entire fish, with the exception of the belly are antiqued with CT-10 Sunshine.  Rouge the face and fins with CT-08 Orange Juice.  Lightly rouge the scales with the same color.
3. Spray seal with Gloss Spray and finish eyes as above.  Dry brush the tips of the fins with CO-109 Raven Black.  Apply one more coat of Gloss Spray.

• “Clownfish”:

1. Antique with the same color as you did the shark.  Lighten the entire fish with a bit of antiquing solution on your cloth.
2. Refer to photo for placement of CT-08 Orange Juice.  Gently pat to set the color and expose detail on the fins.  At this point if you need to clean up any of the white areas, use a Q-Tip moistened with antiquing solution.  The coral is antiqued CT-13 Jewelry Jade.  Random highlights of CT-04 Magenta and CT-17 Eggplant are rouged onto the surface.
3. Spray seal with Gloss Spray.  The eyes are completed as listed above.  Paint the black stripes with CO- 109 Raven Black.  Apply one more coat of Gloss Spray.

• “Lazy Lobster”:

1. Place a small amount of CT-20 Dark Chocolate on your pallet.  Mix in Gold Metallic Powder, (about ½ the amount of metallic to the paint).  Add a couple of drops of blending media to this mixture.  This will be used for both the Lobster and the Octopus/Crab pieces.  Antique with this mixture.
2. Mix equal parts of CT-07 Red Clay and Ct-06 Bandana Red.  Antique the entire piece with this color.
3. Heavily rouge the belly portion with CT-10 Sunshine.  Lightly highlight the entire piece with this color, as well.
4. Spray seal, complete eyes as listed above and paint the antennas with CO- 109 Raven Black.  Apply one more coat of Gloss Spray.

• “Crabby and Grabby” (Crab and Octopus)

• Antique with the brown mixture as used in the Lobster.
• Use the same CT-07 Red Clay and CT-06 Bandana Red mix from the Lobster on the Crab.  Lightly rouge with CT-10 Sunshine.
• The Octopus is antiqued with CT-09 Honey Mustard.  Lightly rouge the entire Octopus with the Lobster color.
• Spray seal and complete eyes as listed above.  Spray with one more coat of Gloss Spray.