The Painted Cake

Never one to back down from a challenge, I've received just that from one of my July brides.  She brought me a gallery of hand-painted wedding cakes and would like me to paint an all-over orchid motif on a small, three-tiered fondant cake.  I think the look is incredibly beautiful and unique, and this bride is really into bright colors, so it fits perfectly with her overall vision.  The only thing is...I've never painted something this intricate on a cake.  Thus, I have enlisted the help of my artistic mentor, Carolyn VanSant, aka:  Grandma Strawberry.  Yes, she's my maternal grandmother.  She's also won awards for her watercolors, weaving, tapestries, you name it.  She made all of my Christmas and Easter dresses growing up, and my senior prom dress (stunning).  I have four of her watercolors in my apartment, a Hello Kitty tapestry (I know I know), and so many special little trinkets from her world travels I can't even start to mention them all.  I owe my mother for my birth and good genes, but I owe my artistic talents to my grandmother.

The coolest person you will ever meet:

Grandma on her 80th birthday

  As luck would have it, the watercolor queen is going to be in town NEXT WEEK for my cousin's graduation and she's going to give me a little lesson, help me pick out brushes, etc.  I'm looking forward to it so much! 

Here are some of the pictures Miss July shared with me for inspiration.  These are her colors:

Source unknown

 And these are the cakes.  We decided on a color version of the first one you see here:

 I'm waiting on a photo of what her actual flowers will be, but these are photos she shared with me of what she is hoping for:

What do you think of the painted look?  Tell me in the comments!

Love,

Rachel