I've been able to work more on the mermaid; developing colors for her skin tone. I have been using a wide variety of warm and cool reds as glazes, when normally I just stick with my warm red for fairer skin tones. Being a Hawaiian mermaid, she will have a sarong draped across her chest and a plumeria in her hair.

The artist with up-and-coming artist son, busy at at work in the studio.

Here is an update of the woodgrained longboard I am currently working on. The Hawaiian mermaid is coming along, but still lots of glazing, detail, rocks and background info to be added. More updates next week.

Fiberglass to Wood

I forgot to take a picture of this board when it was handed to me by Jeff Malmen--he shaped it especially for me to paint. It's a nice size of 8' and is an incredible shape. For now it is just hot coated, which I what I prefer to paint on. When I'm done painting it, I will deliver it to Jeff so he can put the final gorgeous coat of gloss resin on it. He will buff it out to a shine.

This board was solid white, with a 1/4" basswood stringer and a redwood glassed-on fin. Here is the work in progress:

Faux redwood and heartgrain wood with crossfire

You can see where I am going to paint a Hawaiian mermaid on the bottom of this board. She will be laying on lava rock, near the edge of the shore.

More updates to come as I work come closer to finishing it.....