2D Finalist 1
Natural Dark
by Jessica Maeder · submitted Sep 8, 2013 · 2013 contest
1 / 24
Description
I decided to do this design, because it has a lot of small pieces. Small, individual pieces were key, because this was a "my toddler is finally napping" project.
I was able to make it, bit by bit, over almost 2 weeks. I made a batch of fondant and turned about half of it into gum paste. From there I made the moth wings and leaves, over the course of a few days. I allowed them to dry completely and then painted them with food color diluted with vodka. After that had dried I "finished" them with powdered food coloring. Then, the day before completing the cake, I made the fish. I molded a general fish body shape and then used a pastry tip to cut out the scales. I outlined the scales with a darker color and then colored and shaded the finished fish with dry colors.
I baked the white cake that night (Box cake. Toddlers don't allow for scratch baking, typically). The next day, I cut the face out of the side of the cake, coated it with raspberry jam, since I like that better than frosting, and made a batch of chocolate fondant. I dyed a portion of the chocolate fondant "black" and then draped it over the cake. I then molded the face as best I could.
From there it was decorating time. I used the chocolate fondant to make her hair and added the orange fish first. I then moved around the top of her head, adding wings, leaves, the coral, and more hair as needed. I finished her, but touching up the pieces with dry color and taking dry color to her hair to make it look a little more natural.
My parents stopped by to see her before the cutting happened. They also helped eat her. She was very tasty. There's something about white cake and jam that is just delicious.
I was able to make it, bit by bit, over almost 2 weeks. I made a batch of fondant and turned about half of it into gum paste. From there I made the moth wings and leaves, over the course of a few days. I allowed them to dry completely and then painted them with food color diluted with vodka. After that had dried I "finished" them with powdered food coloring. Then, the day before completing the cake, I made the fish. I molded a general fish body shape and then used a pastry tip to cut out the scales. I outlined the scales with a darker color and then colored and shaded the finished fish with dry colors.
I baked the white cake that night (Box cake. Toddlers don't allow for scratch baking, typically). The next day, I cut the face out of the side of the cake, coated it with raspberry jam, since I like that better than frosting, and made a batch of chocolate fondant. I dyed a portion of the chocolate fondant "black" and then draped it over the cake. I then molded the face as best I could.
From there it was decorating time. I used the chocolate fondant to make her hair and added the orange fish first. I then moved around the top of her head, adding wings, leaves, the coral, and more hair as needed. I finished her, but touching up the pieces with dry color and taking dry color to her hair to make it look a little more natural.
My parents stopped by to see her before the cutting happened. They also helped eat her. She was very tasty. There's something about white cake and jam that is just delicious.
