The 23 Layer Cake | offthebeatenpress.com

This one was a really fun project to work on! A client came to me with an idea for a friend. When the friend was younger, she had heart surgery to save her life. Every year now, along with celebrating her birthday, they celebrate her heat surgery! This year was 23.To commemorate, my client wanted to make a 23 layer cake as well as have it painted! She sent me a spreadsheet describing the order of the layers. All the cake was chocolate, but the frosting in between varied from coffee to vanilla buttercream. She even had a brownie cookie and chocolate chip cookie layer! I gladly accepted the commission IF I got to try the cake when it was done.The final was done on 18x24 Cold Press Watercolor paper. I began sketching and sent over progress pictures as I worked to ensure she was happy with the project. Then slowly, I pulled out my watercolors and began painting each layer. It was challenging to try to show different cream layers as different colors. My favorite layer to paint was the sprinkle buttercream! I got to use a fine brush and so many colors to achieve all the little sprinkles.Here is the final (though I got a TERRIBLE QUALITY photo of it).I even painted a tiny piece of cake that night for fun since I had all the colors out! I kept it for myself for my desk at work.Once I finished with the interior I added the mint buttercream final layer with some chocolate chips. Then I completed the right side of the piece with a letter she had written to her friend. She loved the project when it was done and got copies of the poster made.And, two weeks later - she delivered a piece of the actual cake! I really like my illustration, but I liked the way that cake tasted even more! Here was a photo she sent me of her process making it!

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23 Layer Cake Watercolor Painting

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