Ombre Inspiration
If you’ve seen my work before, you know I’ve been harboring a quiet love for ombre. It’s not so quiet anymore—Twilight Ombre, Ombre Origins, and Starlit Showgirl are all proof that this color fade thing has me in its grip.
Switching Up the Colors
But lately, I felt the need to move away from the pinks and purples that kept reappearing. Emerald Tides was meant to be my experiment with blues and greens—a little change, a little risk.
The Two-Frame Start
The first few photos in the set say a lot: I started with two blank frames, full of optimism and big plans to tackle both Starlit Showgirl and Emerald Tides at the same time. The idea was noble; the reality was… ambitious. Once I got to the step of placing all the tiny wood pieces, my enthusiasm dropped sharply. That part always takes longer than it should (seriously, how does it eat up hours every time?). So—one thing at a time. Emerald Tides won out and got my full focus.
Cutting, Arranging, and Glueing
Cutting and arranging those pieces is always more meditative than I expect. There’s an initial mess, a sense that I’ll never get them all to line up, but eventually, some order emerges. When the arrangement was finally done (after way too many rearrangements), I glued everything down. Cue relief.
Color Testing & Burning
Next came color testing. I leaned into blues, greens, touches of turquoise—shifting away from my usual palettes of pinks and purples to try something new. All the edges and raw wood got burned, adding texture and character.
Painting & Glitter Rivers
Starting to paint always gets my nerves going (what if I mess it up?), but honestly, you can’t really ruin this. That’s the beauty of it. I spritz the wood with water—not just because it feels artsy, but it actually helps me control how much color soaks in. The wetter the wood, the softer the color (and if it turns out too light, I just add more later). Spray, paint, let the colors wander and blend—no stress, just follow the flow.
Normally, I’d go full sparkle overload—glitter all the things! But with Emerald Tides, I had to show a little restraint (which, let’s be real, is not my strong suit). We carved “rivers” into the wood, laid down lines of glue, and then carefully sprinkled the glitter—just enough to make those rivers shine without hijacking the whole piece. The sparkle is there, catching the light, but I didn’t let it run wild (this time, anyway).
Finishing Touches & Farewell
When the colors felt right, poly sealed the deal and Emerald Tides took her final studio bow. She went up in the Etsy shop and just recently found her new home—gone, but hopefully appreciated for her calm ombre energy and the hours she stole from my schedule.
Thank You for Following Along
Thanks for hanging out with Emerald Tides—start to finish, glitter rivers included! If this ombre adventure has your curiosity (or your creative spirit) in its grips too, you’re definitely in the right place. Stay tuned, there’s always another project (and probably another ombre) on deck.
Is ombre calling your name? Do you have a fade you’re obsessed with, or a color combo you want to see get the ombre treatment? Drop your ideas or questions in the comments—let’s see if ombre has you hooked too!