Aren’t ostensoriums a deliriously delicious source of inspiration? About 10 years ago I took a poseable doll making class with a sculpted head. A chill was in the air and I got the idea to make “Ice King”.  I was really  into thinking about what an ice king would look like; what would he wear? So this year, I honored this creative process by making him his own ostensorium for his regal enjoyment.  Big thanks to the Relics & Artifacts® Tribe for your assistance in this process.

I started by assembling and gluing my kit together using wood glue. Eager to keep the party going, I got out the Helios I and Helios II pieces. I placed the smaller Helios II over the top of the larger Helios I and outlined the smaller one in pencil as a guide for me..

This next process was simply mad scientist and impatience. How can I create what is in my head with the quickest possible method? Who doesn’t love Plaster of Paris and Apoxie Sculpt? For this project I broke out my cake decorating tool, mixed up some plaster of Paris and squeezed it onto the Helios I, avoiding my pencil drawing where Helios II would nest.

While the Plaster of Paris dried, I mixed up some Apoxie Sculpt. I rolled it into little snakes and following the lines already on the face of Helios II, laid down the snake into the spokes. I followed it up with a texturizing stamp.

Metal or Ice? The RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Tribe helped push me over the edge and voted for both!

I prepared a lovely concoction of black and white gesso and covered the entire ostensorium with it. In retrospect, I think I might have painted the internal shrine part first before assembling. By the time I got around to the front again , the grey gesso was dry. NOW the fun can begin!

I painted over the gesso with VerDay patina paint, let dry, second coat and while still wet applied blue green patina. Exercise more patience.  I didn’t bust out my heat tool for some reason.  Fearful of bubbling the paint, I guess?

Ice, ice baby. Insert dance here. If you’ve never worked with interference paints, you’re in for a treat. They are a staple of mine in my artwork. I’d eat it if I could. It’s that scrumptious. I used Golden Acrylic Interference Blue (Fine) paint. It’s a tube of fabulousness that lasts a long time. I even diluted it slightly with water and applied over the patina.  I might lay down some Ice Resin in drips (like melting ice) soon but shiny surfaces are hard to photograph, so I will wait to try it. Maybe you might want to!? 

Shhhhh. It’s a secret! Ice or bubble effects? Try adding (sparingly) Daler Rowney Pearlescent Acrylic Artists Ink. I took a couple of drops and placed them so that they make the blue look icy. Careful with this stuff. It can ruin a project if you use too much all at once.

All of the edges of the ostensorium were rubbed with Rub N Buff.

Look! The helios pieces are dry! I painted Helios I with bronze/gold metal paint to make it contrast with Helios II which was slathered in liquid gold leaf. I nested these two buddies back together, following the pencil lines using wood glue.

Inside the ostensorium I placed a head from either "Facia Famliaris" or "Figureheads" using Apoxie Sculpt.

Gems, a crackle painted hand from "Milagros" sits below Helios I and HeliosII pieces as though holding it up.

It was a project that took two days. One of my favorite adventures in RELICS & ARTIFACTS®, I must say. Enjoy!

Supply List:                                                                                                
Relics & Artifacts® Ostensorium                                                                                                                          Relics & Artifacts® Helios I
Relics & Artifacts® Helios II                                                                                                                       Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Relics & Artifacts® Figureheads                                                                            
Relics & Artifacts® Milagros                                                                                                                       Kroma Crackle                                                                                                               
VerDay Patina Paint Kit                                                                                             
Apoxie Sculpt  
Golden Interference Paint  
Pearlescent Ink  
Rub n Buff  
Gems     
Plaster of Paris                                                                                        
Cake decorating tools