SALMON GYOTAKU WITH DRIFTWOOD, SEAGLASS AND SHELLS

I have finally finished adding the

embellishments to my gyotaku.

I have the perfect place to display it with a generous

shelf below to create a driftwood beach.

As with any beach there are many treasures to discover. . .

limpets, oyster shells, clam shells, a crab, footprints in the sand,

and worn, bleached driftwood.

I have used my collection of seaglass and pottery found

on the beaches of Scotland and Washington state.

I have had these hooks saved for something special for decades.

I found them in an abandoned house in Newfoundland on the Great Northern Peninsula.

I'm guessing they are cod hooks as that was once a vibrant fishery in Newfoundland.

I used plaster of Paris to which I added blue acrylic paint. After mixing it well I spooned it out on top of the fabric. Before adding shells, driftwood etc. I added a deep blue acrylic on top of the spooned out mixture and swirled it a bit before adding my embellishemnts.

WOODBURNING ON DRIFTWOOD

I found this piece of drift wood yesterday. . .

liked its fish-like appearance. . .

knew it would lend itself well to something!

To burn scripture into the driftwood

 you need a magnifying glass, the sun

and a little spare time. (about an hour)

Holding the glass at a certain angle the

beams from the sun may be concentrated

into one spot. The dry driftwood started smoking

as soon as the light was focused on it and

a little flame shot up from time to time as well.

I continue to work with my earlier gyotaku print.

I do plan to add more embelishments to the canvas,

but liked placing my drift wood to the shelf below.

The piece with the woodburning is on the far left.

All His creation continues to astound me.

SEASHORE PLASTER ART

My two Grandsons and I had a great afternoon

at the beach creating plaster footprints and handprints.

The tide was way out leaving lots of sand...still it was difficult to find what would work best...either too wet or too dry.

My oldest grandson, who is well versed in all aspects of

the beach, sand, stones, crabs, sand dollars etc. introduced

me to what he has named "25 second sand". He heaped

up handfuls of wet sand onto level dry sand, waited 25 seconds and then made his foot print. It held the print perfectly!

Plaster cast of 6 year old foot.

Dry plaster mixed with fesh water...2 parts plaster

1 part water.

Pour or spoon into imprint . . .

wait about a half hour. . .

Carefully remove sand from all around your casting

and from underneath. Gently lift from the sand.

Rinse in a nearby tidal pool.

KIDS 'N' GYOTAKU

My six year old grandson's gyotaku.

I always like the kid's finished product better

than my own. I think I work too hard at it

while theirs flows naturally.

Prepare fabric by splattering paint...best done outside!

Choose colors for the fish and start painting.

This fish has been well used...

Almost ready

Place prepared fabric over fish and gently rub.

Carefully lift fabric from the fish.

Another day and another fish...from Kivers to Salmon.

Cover prepared fish with paper and gently rub.

Carefully remove paper...

Paint in eye detail.

FUN WITH FINS

MAKING NEW COLORS

THIS FIN WAS TRANSFORMED INTO

 A  BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY

EXPERIMENTING WITH WHITE ACRYLIC

ON BLACK CANVAS