Peacock-Inspired Glass Vase

Benetta
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 408 Posts

finished painted vase Christmas is just around the corner and it is time to start making gifts for those special people in your life. Find your inspiration in the feathers of a peacock for this gift idea. Turn an ordinary clear glass vase into a unique table centerpiece, a gift to be cherished for many years.

Total Time: Weekend project

Yield: one vase

Supplies:

1 3.4 inch high clear round glass vase
food coloring in the following colors: apple green; crimson red and sky blue
acrylic paint in the following colors: white and pale gold
black Artliner 210 medium pen
brown (Marrom 531) Acrilex Acrilpen
black Giotto décor textile pen
clear drying wood glue
clear drying matt spray varnish
thick paintbrush
thin paintbrush
three small plastic containers
three plastic spoons
newspaper to protect the working area

Steps:

Wash the glass vase and allow to dry upside down overnight.
In a plastic container, mix wood glue with some of the sky blue food coloring. Keep adding a drop of food coloring at a time until the desired color effect is obtained.
Use the thick paintbrush and add a coat of colored glue to the outside of the vase. Allow to dry overnight.

Use the black Artliner 210 medium pen to draw the peacock's feathers all around the vase.
Use the thin paintbrush and pale gold paint to add color to the outer part of each feather. Allow to dry thoroughly.

In a second plastic container, mix white paint and sky blue food coloring. Again, keep adding a drop of food coloring at a time until the desired color effect is obtained. Use this blue mix to paint the inner part of each feather and allow to dry thoroughly.
Add more blue food coloring to the same mix and add a dash of darker blue to the inner part of each feather. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Add crimson red food coloring to the blue mix and add a dash of purple-blue paint to the inner part of each feather. Allow to dry thoroughly.
In the last plastic container, mix white paint and apple green food coloring. Add an uneven green border all around the golden part of the feather, as well as a dash of green above the inner part of each feather. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Use the black textile pen to add shadows to the inner part of each feather.

Use the brown Acrilpen to add some detail to the golden and blue parts of each feather.

Use the pale gold paint to add a thin border to the top of the vase and allow to dry thoroughly.

Put the vase upright on a piece of newspaper and spray with a coat of spray varnish. Remember to work in a well ventilated area when using the spray varnish. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Turn the vase upside down, spray the bottom part of the vase with the varnish and allow to dry.