Beautiful Bloom on 10" Acacia Wood Tray. Incredible shimmer and intensity!

Welcome! Thank you for being here, I appreciate your time and hope you learn something from my videos.
In today's episode, I am using my translucent pillow over a 10 inch diameter acacia wood tray(purchased at Hobby Lobby). Before beginning the blooming process, the tray was sprayed with 2 light coats of Zinsser Shellac, dried overnight. It isn't neccessary to dry it for more than 30 minutes according to the label but I didn't plan on painting right away and wanted to get that done the night before. You can use any sealer you choose, follow manufacturers instructions so you don't ruin your artwork before you even create it. I like shellac because it completely seals in any air, natural resins and moisture that can and likely will effect the finished piece. I also purchased a square 12" acacia tray for a future piece. The intent is to seal with resin once cured. I wait 2 weeks for any art on natural wood. Unfortunately, this particular piece was warped and I knew it before painting on it but after sealing it. With that knowledge, I decided it was a good piece to experiment on. It did come out beautiful so I am going to try to flatten it somehow or just apply feet so the warp isn't noticeable.
I am finding that I enjoy doing functional pieces as much, if not more, than canvas art. Stay with me as I begin to explore texture after my show in June! I'm excited to travel this path as texture is my OCD and overcoming it will be a huge challenge. If I can master my OCD, I may just hit a milestone. I've never found texture art appealing until recently, seeing other artists show their texture work. I haven't decided on my first attempt as of yet however, as you may have guessed about me, I am unlikely to choose a sure bet. My typical response to challenge is eeeeeeek! bring it on! and I dive in with the most difficult version of what I'm trying to do. In this case, I have been looking at florals. Stay tuned!
Now for the details....
Purple Wazer blowdryer from Amazon (tape a bead to the cool shot button so you don't have to hold it down): a.co/d/gsp6pmy
Pillow recipe: 1 part Behr premium eggshell untinted deep base, 1/2 part American floetrol, 3 tablespoons Artist Loft pouring medium. You may use and thick clear pouring medium you like. This consistency will be much thinner than the usual pillow because it needs to flow easily and spread thin. Do NOT thin further with water! This recipe is what I used for my stained glass blooms that I found to dry the clearest, still hold cells and lacing and dry without cracking. I have done more than a dozen stained glass blooms successfully with this mixture. This was my first time using it on wood and it performed flawlessly, drying much clearer than my previous recipes.
Bloom colors: Pouring medium- 1 part Josonja gloss varnish(new to me and I absolutely love it!) to 3 parts Behr 3300 deep base untinted(this is a semi-gloss). Pigments are dissolved in the Josonja gloss alone first then the Behr 3300 is added and a little more Josonja if needed. I thin with distilled water as needed. For flow ease, you want no more than a 3 second trace in your mixed paints and pigments. I add my tube paints after mixing my varnish and untinted base to desired intensity. I have been using Golden Fluid paints to intensify or adjust colors but I started using acrylic inks and enjoy the subtle effect along with not having to worry about adding too much. My pigments in this bloom were TLP seaglass, Arteza Iris purple and Pearlx duo blue-green shift. My tube paints were Liquitex Diox purple and Quinacradone Magenta. My cell activator is Amsterdam Pearl yellow with Australian floetrol.
The brushes I used to tweak my work were purchased at Ross Dress for Less, no brand but the large round one formed a point at the tip making it ideal for this process.
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[@LouiseMcKayArt]

Hi Dawn, guess you’re getting like me with the Functional Art creations, so much fun and useful. Sorry about the warp on that pretty result you have there😔

[@vegasmainiac7745]

Hey Louise ❤️ I've been doing more trays and lazy susans for sure! Great news to wake up to: the warp flattened overnight!! And the dry results are beautiful 😍

[@AugustsAcrylicArt]

That’s too bad about the warp. This turned out beautifully!! I’ve never done a tray and get scared thinking I’ll put too much paint and ruin it 😂

[@vegasmainiac7745]

Thank you 😊 There's a surprise though! It unwarped over night!! I'm so so happy🩷
Don't be afraid, nothing can be done that can't be undone! With wood trays, because you shellac them first, the paint peels right out with a little citrusstrip!

[@AugustsAcrylicArt]

@@vegasmainiac7745 oh that’s good to know about the paint peeling out! And awesome that it unwarped!