Lisa Edsalv combined food coloring, shampoo, and bold accessories for the November/December issue of Departures. "I had been experimenting with putting liquids between two pieces of plexiglass before the shoot, so I decided to do that and add color," explained the prop stylist. "I tried a ton of products from Duane Reade and I think what worked best was Pantene Pro-V with food coloring and a little bit of water."

The editors selected and grouped the jewelry, which included a ruby pavé, white-gold, and titanium David Yurman cuff; Tamsen Z tourmaline, tanzanite and rubellite earrings; and a Bulgari necklace made from sapphires, peridots, milky quartz, and diamonds. "Then I decided on the background," Edsalv said. "I chose either complementary colors or a tint that would pick up one of the gems, so the jewelry wouldn't get lost." She splashed on the mixture, and pressed together the plexiglass to create streaks and bubbles. The entire project took "two civilized days," Edsalv noted with a laugh.

Credits:

Photographer: Joe Stans

Stylist: Shannon Adducct