Ebru Soap- Great Cakes Soapworks Soap Challenge, June

So after many early practices, and then once the contest rules were laid out many attempts, I finally decided on a soap challenge theme.

The Dragon

Scented with a blend of  Cedarwood, Juniper Berry, and Rosemary Essential Oils, and
Mysore Sandalwood Fragrance Oil by Oregon Trail Soapers Supply

Colorants by Nurture Soap

I wanted to try a new recipe. I used for this soap

23% Sweet Almond Oil
7% Castor Oil
10% Coconut Oil
20% Tallow
40% Lard
3% Superfat
with 40% Lye Concentration (1.5:1 water to lye ratio)
split between 1:1 water to lye and the remaining .5 water was replaced with 100% pure coconut milk
Tussah Silk, 2% Sodium Citrate, and 1 tablespoon sugar ppo was also included in this soap
A total of 14 colorants were used as well (listed in my process).

Fragrance was appx 38% Cedarwood, 38% Sandalwood, 16% Juniper Berry, and 7% Rosemary (more or less)
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My inspiration is a wonderful etsy artist, Robert Wu. This work of his titled Rhythm was my main inspiration, but if you take time to visit his shop, you can see his Dragon, Peacock, and Phoenix (which I believe has been sold) works which also were an inspiration for this soap.

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I began by stick blending a few bursts, added the coconut milk, then stick blended to emulsion. I added the fragrances, and then I split the batch into 9 squirt bottles (a small amount) and into 3 paper cups.

I poured the base, and then proceeded to color each bottle and cup. I am a scoop and dump color gal, so it took no time to color.

I then laid out my fire beneath.

Colors from top to bottom were-
Sunshine Yellow mixed with Maya Gold
Desert Sunset
Really Red
Orchid Purple
Activated Charcoal mixed with Dark Steel Gray

I then skewered top to bottom and bottom to top, alternating. I think had I used the blunt end of the skewer, it may have pulled the batter apart more like the inspiration photo.

Then I used the Activated Charcoal mixed with Dark Steel Gray to lay out the body. After laying down Teal beside it, I proceeded to skewer out spikes along the body and off the top of the head.

I then laid out alternating colors of Wisteria Purple, Teal, Klein Blue, and Mantis Green. I threw in there an AC/Steel line as well. I then pulled the skewer down as a comb would do for the wings.

Finally I dropped Raspberry Red, Red Vibrance, Really Red, Titanium Dioxide, and Sunshine Yellow in front of the mouth. I made French curls to emulate fire escaping.

I am happy enough with the outcome, and think I'll call this one DONE:-)

Thanks for looking, and thank you to Amy for hosting these fun and exciting challenges!