I am not kidding when I tell you that I have painted this headboard many times over!!!  Anytime I am lucky enough to find it listed on a local sales page….I grab it!  It offers a huge dramatic finish….no matter what direction I take the design.  I can honestly say….this is the most fun I have EVER had with this headboard!!!

 

 

My client specifically asked for a “mermaid” headboard….queen size….and TALL!  She also asked that I use the aqua color on it….as it is going in her beach house….and this color is carried throughout the home.  So I began by color blending the three shades you see below….(top/middle/bottom….all blended into each other).

((I have painted this same piece of furniture 100x, you can see this same headboard painted in a neutral whimsical style here.))

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I then drew out my mermaid design….and painted her entire shape in white.  I decided at the last minute that I wanted a deeper base for the bed…..so I added the navy bottom….and blended it into the color above it.  I then sprayed the entire painted surface with water….allowing the paint to naturally drip and run.  It was exactly the look I was after…..wet and salt-washed!

 

I continued to build and layer my mermaid…..adding colors and depth as I went.  You can see the progression of her coming to life in the four photos below.

I LOVE her so much!!!!  I really do!!!!

I wanted her hair to steal the show….and I think I accomplished that!  I used the scrolls on the bed itself as inspiration for her curly hair!

I did not give her a face for two reasons.  ONE…..I am awful at painting faces…LOL!  Just being honest!  TWO….I wanted her to remain sort of mysterious!

I photographed her in my breakfast room….and was mesmerized at the way the sunlight coming in the window just gave her life!  And those drips!!!  What a perfect opportunity to use the organic look of the water technique!!

I am really pleased at a detail that most people will probably just overlook!  So let me bring it to your attention….LOL!  I literally crammed white paint up into the crack where the flat headboard meets the gold trim.  I just loaded my brush with a big glob….and crammed it up into that space…and then sprayed it with water and let it run.  I love that it looks like its been sprayed with salt water splash for years!!!  That is the exact look I was after!

I know I say it way too much….but I really mean it!  I am so so so thankful for my clients!!!  They allow me to paint freely….and they trust my brain to create something unique for just for them!  I hope this mermaid brings a smile to the face of everyone that enters that beach house!!  She sure made me smile while I was bringing her to life!

Thank ya’ll for joining me here today!!!!

 

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Here are the exact colors I used.  They are top-quality mineral paints from Dixie Belle Paint Company These are all affiliate links of which I could make a small commission, so thank you, thank you! You can also find the Modern Masters metallic paints and more of my favorite products and tools in my Amazon influencer list here

 

 

 

 

 

If you got a sec, follow me on Instagram @traceysfancy for more fancy ideas

XOXO,

Tracey

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