Mermaid Scales 🧜‍♀️

Join me to create this magical and shimmering piece of mermaid art! Using a stencil, acrylic paint, Dragonfly Glaze paint, and crushed glass, you'll create an iridescent masterpiece that glows with color and texture. Follow along with this step-by-step tutorial to bring your own artwork to life!

I am using a wooden 9xa2 canvas for this art project. Start by painting the entire canvas (along with the edges) with one coat of black acrylic paint. Once dry, apply two coats of gold paint over the black. This gold layer will show through the stencil design. Let the paint dry completely before moving on to the stenciling process.

Secure your mermaid scale stencil onto the canvas using painter’s tape. Since the stencil is slightly larger than the canvas, you’ll need to stencil in sections.

Using a dauber or stencil brush, lightly dab black acrylic paint over the stencil. Be careful not to overload the brush - offloading excess paint onto a paper towel will help prevent seepage under the stencil. Once the first section is done, remove the stencil carefully and dry the paint with a heat tool. Reposition the stencil to cover the remaining areas and repeat the stenciling process. Dry again.

Now for the magic! Reattach the stencil and start applying Dragonfly Glaze paints in different shades. Do sections of colors instead of blending the paint. These paints will give your mermaid scales an enchanting, shimmering look. I'm using Blue-Green-Gold, Violet-Blue-Green, Red-Violet-Blue, and Green-Gold-Red. Use separate daubers or brushes for each color to prevent muddying. Dry with a heat tool. 

If you notice any stencil paint bleed, use a gold metallic paint pen to highlight certain areas. Dry again.

Time to add glass! Select different shades of crushed glass, such as: Pacific Blue, Rose Gold, Clear Glass, and Cobalt Blue. Apply small clusters of glass randomly throughout the canvas, focusing on areas that naturally catch the light. Avoid piling on too much - just a single layer in select spots will add the perfect amount of dimension.

Next, we're going to elevate our canvas using blocks. Put on rubber gloves. Mix 2 oz total of ArtResin and stir gently for three minutes. Pour the resin onto your canvas and use your gloved fingers or brush to spread it over the entire piece.

Use a heat gun to pop your bubbles. Keep your heat moving at all times! Allow your artwork to cure for at least 24 hours in a dust-free space.

If you don’t want to miss my Facebook LIVE art instruction, make sure you are on my texting list. I always text 10 minutes before I’m going to go LIVE, so you won’t ever miss it. You can text “Hey Cindy” to 901-519-2923.

Want more inspiration and artwork?

•  My website artshattered.com with resources, shop, and more!
•  My creative membership The Shattered Circle, where you can explore the world of glass art with online workshops, a supportive community, and more!
•  My mini creative membership Just A ‘Lil Bit Monthly Glass Art Club, where you’ll get a new quick and easy online tutorial for just a lil' bit of sparkle in your life!
• My Facebook page where I go LIVE every Wednesday night at 5:00 PM CST.
• My YouTube channel which has tons of free art lessons right at your fingertips.