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Description
Secrets held.
Secrets hidden.
Secrets kept safe.

This box and the blank journal within is my Christmas gift to Connor this year. I've written him several notes and given him several roses over the past couple of years, and he needs a safe place to keep them. This was my idea, and he agreed. He doesn't know about the journal yet.

I bought the unfinished box at a craft store. First, I sanded it before painting it with a white coat of paint. Next, I painted the sides, the bottom, and the underside of the lid solid black. I then sketched the unicorns on the top and filled them in with black paint. Then came the fun part: painting the sky. I started at the top with dark blue, then graded from bright blue to yellow. After, I painted the unicorns black again because they were veiled in a rainbow from when I had painted the sky. I then added a few stars and painted the edge gold for the boarder. The entire box is covered in two coats of polyurethane for protection and a slight gloss. The inside is lined with dark brown velvet.

All in all, this probably took me about 12 hours over the course of three days. But I am absolutely in love with it. If Connor doesn't like it, I'll keep it. I know he's going to love it though This is definitely one of my favorite projects, and I really want to make some more. (Commissions anyone?)

And, yes, the two unicorns are The Wanderer and Thomil, running beneath a sunset sky, flying free upon wings of love.

Image and characters copyright Ashley Mutek.
Acrylics on wood.
December 23, 2007.

*Sorry about the weird angle.
**The white lines are shine from the gloss. I couldn't get a shot that eliminated all of them. Sorry.

EDIT: Yup, Connor LOVES this box. He kept staring at it after I gave it to him Then he swept me up in a huge hug. It makes me happy. He makes me happy

Description
Secrets held.
Secrets hidden.
Secrets kept safe.

This box and the blank journal within is my Christmas gift to Connor this year. I've written him several notes and given him several roses over the past couple of years, and he needs a safe place to keep them. This was my idea, and he agreed. He doesn't know about the journal yet.

I bought the unfinished box at a craft store. First, I sanded it before painting it with a white coat of paint. Next, I painted the sides, the bottom, and the underside of the lid solid black. I then sketched the unicorns on the top and filled them in with black paint. Then came the fun part: painting the sky. I started at the top with dark blue, then graded from bright blue to yellow. After, I painted the unicorns black again because they were veiled in a rainbow from when I had painted the sky. I then added a few stars and painted the edge gold for the boarder. The entire box is covered in two coats of polyurethane for protection and a slight gloss. The inside is lined with dark brown velvet.

All in all, this probably took me about 12 hours over the course of three days. But I am absolutely in love with it. If Connor doesn't like it, I'll keep it. I know he's going to love it though This is definitely one of my favorite projects, and I really want to make some more. (Commissions anyone?)

And, yes, the two unicorns are The Wanderer and Thomil, running beneath a sunset sky, flying free upon wings of love.

Image and characters copyright Ashley Mutek.
Acrylics on wood.
December 23, 2007.

*Sorry about the weird angle.
**The white lines are shine from the gloss. I couldn't get a shot that eliminated all of them. Sorry.

EDIT: Yup, Connor LOVES this box. He kept staring at it after I gave it to him Then he swept me up in a huge hug. It makes me happy. He makes me happy