By Teri M Bethel When you think 'tropical' perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a lush, brilliantly coloured floral design with bursts of contrasting colour throughout. Fortunately, tropical designs are not limited to just one person's concept or preference, but really embrace a larger scope such as fish and fauna, seascapes and more. Many tropical designs are sprinkled with some of these elements, but really come alive with a simple selection of colour. Whether your design is based on realism or the abstract, adding colours with texture brings a new dimension, a fresh feel for the tropics. Though they can be quite beautiful, a leaf painted with non-dimensional paints does not offer the same look as a full-bodied, textured design. A textured design is something which intrigues you and which you want to reach out and touch, to feel the fascinating bold and at times glossy swirls of paint. To accomplish this basic textured look you need only to start with the following items: * A sturdy paint brush for acrylic paint * Dimensional paint * A paint friendly surface (fabric, paper, wood) Designers have visited our shores for years just to be inspired by what we see daily and have become so accustomed to seeing. Some years ago, I met a textile artist from England living here in the Bahamas whose inspired designs were sold to a fabric mill in the United Kingdom. Her designs were used by interior designers for upholstering sofas, making window treatments and bedding. This artist's greatest task was to roll out of bed in the morning and capture the beauty of her tropical surroundings from her ocean view porch framed with bougainvillea and splashes of hibiscus flowers. She painted her amazing designs while sipping her favourite cup of coffee in her jammies. In the Bahamas we don't have to travel far, and while many of us have to drive to the ocean, most need only to look out of our windows to see a beautiful croton or hibiscus flower to capture with paint. To get a handle on the colours of the tropics one does not have to look too far. Great places to get your inspiration from are: * Among the native plants: hibiscus flowers and coconut palms * At the fish dock: see incredible colours displayed in native fish like snappers and turbots * At the beach: shells, starfish, sand and sea offer great colours and textures * In the sky: check out the colours at sunrise and sunset So what is it that you can paint a tropical textured design on? Well for starters how about the following: * Coconut craft * Wood dolls and carvings * Doll clothing * Note cards and invitations * Shoes and sneakers * Handbags, hats and belts * T-shirts and jeans * Lamp shades and vases My belief is that if it will sit still long enough to get painted on, then paint it! You'll be pleasantly surprised with what you come up with. My friend, no matter where you live, whether it's in Grand Bahama or any of our fine islands of The Bahamas, inspiration for painting dynamic tropical designs with texture is just a blink away. About the Author: Teri M Bethel specialises in teaching people how to create textured painted fabrics and custom purses. Teri has been involved in manufacturing painted garments, handbags and souvenirs for over two decades. She is the designer of Teri Monique Handbags, a line of custom art purses for ladies. E-mail: Teri@PaintWithTexture.com or visit her at www.PaintWithTexture.com Tel: 242-676-4474.