Behind the Studio Door: Mermaid Crown

The Artist's Toolbox: Paint Palette, Color Recipes, Supplies, & Mediums

Welcome back to the studio! Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on my latest mixed-media piece...

The Texture Strategy: [Insert your technique, e.g., To get that heavily weathered, antique background, I layered scrap pieces of vintage book pages using matte medium, letting them wrinkle slightly on purpose for physical depth.]

The Palette Secret: [Insert your mixing trick, e.g., Don't use pure black for the shadows! I mixed a tiny bit of my raw umber directly into the deep plum tones. This keeps the shadows rich and warm instead of flat and muddy.

Artist's Pro-Tip: [Insert a troubleshooting tip, e.g., When stenciling the damask pattern over your base, use a dry makeup sponge instead of a wet paintbrush. This prevents the paint from bleeding underneath the edges of the stencil lines!]

  • same pro tip from before

  • same pro tip

  • new pro tip for this piece

Main Color

Hair Color

Highlight

Shadows

Golden Fluid Acrylics - Turquois (Phthalo)
Shop Blick

Accent Color

Accent Color

Golden Fluid Acrylic Color Paints Color: Phthalate Blue (Green Shade)
Shop Blick
GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics, Burnt Sienna
Shop Blick
GOLDEN Iridescent Gold Deep (Fine)
Shop Blick
Golden Fluid Acrylics - Carbon Black
Shop Blick
Golden Fluid Acrylics - Sap Green Historical Hue
Shop Blick

Like the original? Bring one home.

Shop the Original Artwork and Available Prints

The Original Artwork:

Mixed-media on canvas. 16"x20"

Name of the Artwork
Buy Now

Your Print Options in Various Sizes:

  • Canvas Wrap Print

  • Acrylic Print

  • Archival Fine Art Prints: Starting at [$35] | Premium cotton rag paper

Name of the Artwork
Buy Now

Contact

lauragruiciart@gmail.com

© 2026. All rights reserved.