string gel spooky tree art

Starting Tips:
- This project is done by applying the string gel mixture to the canvas board with the tip of a palette knife.
- Practise dripping mixture on a separate surface to get the feel of the thickness and flow of the string gel before attempting the project.
- When applying string gel; The more mixture you have on the tip of your knife, the thicker and faster it will drip onto the board. If you want more control, slower movement, and thinner line drips, only apply a small amount of string gel to the tip of your knife. Understanding how to control your gel is key to the creation of your tree.

Cover your work surface with a disposable covering.

Mix 4 ounce (118.2 ml) of string gel with 1 ounce (29.5 ml) of Mars Black soft body paint. The first line from the bottom of your plastic cup is the 4-ounce measure marker. Stir with a craft stick until it is completely black and well blended.

Start by creating the trunk of the tree, roots and ground line.
TIP: Lines can be sketched with a pencil prior to dripping the gel mixture on the canvas to use as a guide.

By holding the gel mixture cup above the canvas, dip the palette knife and pull it out of the gel mixture, allowing the gel to start dripping to apply two parallel lines for your tree trunk. Then, slowly, move down and outward to the left side and right side of the canvas to create the ground and the roots.

Create the branches by holding the gel mixture cup above the tree trunk area. As the knife is pulled out of the gel mixture, allow the gel to begin dripping into the trunk until it gets to the desired drip thickness, then drag the drip line up and out to begin creating the branches.
TIP: By starting and ending the branch drippings inside the trunk area, it will help with the excess drips filling in the body of the trunk.

Once you have reached the tip of the branch, retrace the drip line and move backwards to start spidering out the smaller, extended branches. You will want the branches to be thickest near the trunk and thinnest near the top of the tree. Repeat this until the desired number of branches are made.
TIP: If the drip trail slows down to the point where it is no longer coming off the knife, just add a small, additional amount of gel mixture to the end of the knife and resume where left off.

Finish by filling in the rest of the trunk. Using the palette knife, drip more black gel mixture into the trunk area if needed, and then using the flat side of the knife, spread the gel mixture until it is filled in with black colour.

Allow to dry flat for 24 hours.

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