DIY Tortoise

I bought a bamboo chippendale chair at the Habitat Restore for $12.00 a few months back. Finally there was the perfect day to spray paint so with some inspirational pictures as guidelines  I sprayed away.  My goal was a faux tortoiseshell look.  Here is my dreamy inspiration:


                                            (These 70's horn chairs cost thousands of dollars.)

 I took black and brown spray paint and began to cover the chair, front and back using the black at the rattan "knots" and the brown between the knots.

I liked working "wet" where I would use both cans darkening the black then hitting the light areas again with the brown and blending them.

Not having any other spray can colors on hand, I took to my acrylic paints.

I love a fat "makeup" brush to brush on color, but fingers worked best. I added gold, orange and a chestnut color between the knots, smearing it all together with my fingers.

Possible finished product....I'm 'marinating' on it for a day or two. The seat cushion is not working for me.

Before I design a new cushion, I need to # 1 have a plan as to wear I'll put the chair, #2 pick out a fabric #3 make or have a pro make a cushion cover. I'll post pictures when that is done.  Not sure if I want to go more "colorful" with higher and lower highlights, so I'm going to live with it a bit til I declare it's "done"!

Update:
I had several sessions adding more color since it was so deceptive bringing it indoors where it looked so dark. Here it is now with more highlights added: