Decorative Ideas

Honey Bear Candle Holder

2008-08-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

Prep Step
Transfer the outline patterns to the appropriate wood. Cut the bear and the base from 3/4" pine. Cut six bees, the bee hive, and the bear's arms from 1/4" baltic birch plywood.

Drill tiny holes in the shoulders, tops of arms, bees, and the stand. Refer to the pattern packet for placement.

Slightly round the edges of all pieces, using a belt or hand sander. Sand smooth with 100 then 220-grit sandpaper, and dust off. Transfer main pattern outlines. Transfer details later as needed. Note: After basecoating each piece, let dry and sand lightly.

Honey Bear
Base the bear's face, hands, and feet Sable Brown. Base his shirt, sleeves, and the edge of the base Camel. Base his overalls French Grey Blue and the cuffs Lt. French Blue.

Base the muzzle and the inner ear Mink Tan. Blush the cheeks with Delane's cheek color.

Dot the eyes, paint the nose, mouth and eyebrows with Lamp (Ebony) Black. Let dry. Shade the face, ears, hands, and feet with Burnt Umber.

Stencil "wools" design on shirt and sleeves with Honey Brown. Shade the shirt and sleeves with Honey Brown.

Line and shade the overalls with Uniform Blue. Shade the cuffs with French Grey Blue and highlight with Buttermilk.

Bees, Beehive, & Stand
Base the beehive Honey Brown and the bee bodies True Ochre. Base the top of the stand and the bee wings Buttermilk.

Base the bee heads Lamp (Ebony) Black. Shade and line the beehive with Milk Chocolate. Add a few lines of Camel for highlights. The beehive door is Lamp (Ebony) Black.

Shade the bee bodies with Honey Brown. Use a #2 flat to paint Lamp (Ebony) Black stripes on their bodies. Dot the bee eyes with Buttermilk. Use a #.005 Sakura Pigma Micron permanent black pen to add the stitches on the wings.

Let all pieces dry completely and sand the edges lightly.

Antiquing Instructions
You can use your own favorite antiquing medium, or try Myra's Paste Wax method: Mix 1/2 cup wax with 1/4 teaspoon each Burnt Umber and Burnt Sienna oil paint. Apply mixture with a sponge brush to all pieces. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. Let dry for 15 minutes and buff with a clean, dry cloth.

Deepen antiquing around edges with a cloth dipped in Burnt Umber oil paint. Wipe nearly dry on paper towel. Rub gently around edges to darken. Use a clean cloth to blend into lighter areas.

Use a spatter brush or an old toothbrush to spatter first with Light Buttermilk, then with Lamp (Ebony) Black. Avoid spattering the bear's face.

Assembly
Glue the bee hive to the bear and attach the bear's arms to his body with 19-gauge wire.

Tie a bow from blue plaid scrap fabric and glue to the bear. Attach the bear to the stand with glue and a 3/4" drywall screw.

Cut twelve pieces of 19-gauge wire, 1/2" long. Bend and glue in place to make bee antenna. Cut various lengths of 19-gauge wire. Curlicue wire, attach bees, and glue wire into holes in stand.

Place a tin tray on the stand behind the bear, add a beeswax candle, and let the candle light warm up your evening!

PAINT BOX
Paints: DecoArt Americana Burnt Umber Buttermilk Camel Delane's Cheek Color French Grey Blue Honey Brown Lamp (Ebony) Black Lt. French Blue Milk Chocolate Mink Tan Sable Brown True Ochre Uniform Blue	Brushes: Loew Cornell All American Painter Series 4350-#10/0 liner Series 4300-#2, #8, #12, flats Series 4550-3/4" flat #4 scruffy flat 1/4", 1/2" stencil brushes
Supplies: 18" x 12" x 3/4" pine 12" x 6" x 1/4" baltic birch plywood 100 & 220-grit sandpaper Transfer paper 19-gauge wire #.005 Sakura Pigma Micron permanent black pen Antique medium of your choice 1" nails (1) 3/4" drywall screw Provo Craft Stencil #41-8134 Knits, Wool and Cross Stitch Sawtooth hanger 1/2" checkerboard stencil Beeswax pillar candle Tin tray for candle

Kool Kitty Paper Towel Holder

2008-08-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

This is the first in my new line of "Cwazy Cats." I hope my "wabbit" lovers won't be too upset; I haven't abandoned them completely. I have a new fwend. His name is Jim Llyod, and he has a wonderful imagination. He is also a talented wood cutter, so he and I created this "Kool Kitty" paper towel holder together. We hope you have a great time painting her and that she brings a smile to everyone who sees her.

Brighten up your next picnic with this lively and cwazy cat.

Preparation
Sand and seal all wood pieces, then sand again. Transfer the pattern with graphite paper and your stylus.

Watermelon Board
Base the center oval (the fruit) Cherry Red. You don't have to apply solid coverage; kind of slip-slap it on so there will be a little variation in color. Base the oval surrounding the fruit Light Buttermilk. Base the rind (outermost oval) Leaf Green. After the paint has dried, side load shade around the inside edge of the fruit with Brandy Wine. Base the seeds with Dark Chocolate, then shade them on the bottom half with Ebony Black. Add a highlight of Light Buttermilk to the upper right of each seed. Paint the watermelon slices and the belt buckle the same way as the watermelon board.

Miss Kitty
Base her fur with Antique White and shade with Khaki Tan. Add Light Buttermilk to her muzzle, then highlight her paws. (I don't think hands and feet apply here.) Brush a little Gooseberry on her cheeks and add a Light Buttermilk highlight. Base the inside of her mouth with Brandy Wine. Base her cuspids (teeth) Light Buttermilk. Base her lip Gooseberry. Shade the bottom of her lip with Brandy Wine. Add a Light Buttermilk highlight. Dot on and pull out some whiskers with Sable Brown and a long liner. Base her nose piece with Gooseberry and shade all around it with Brandy Wine, then add a Light Buttermilk highlight on the front.

Straw Hat
Base with Golden Straw, shade the edges with Antique Gold. Use the liner to add some Sable Brown lines to indicate the weave. (I use this term loosely.)

Sundress
Base with Bright Green and shade with Leaf Green. Base the belt with Leaf Green. Shade the belt at the sides and around the buckle with Midnite Green. Deepen the shading here and there (around the collar and on random edges) on her dress with Midnite Green. Paint the gathers around the belt with a sideload of Leaf Green. Base the ruffle with Golden Straw and shade with Antique Gold. Add a few Light Buttermilk highlights near the gathers. Paint the negative space between her legs with Light Buttermilk.

Shoes
Base the tops with Sable Brown and shade with Dark Chocolate. Base the cork soles with Antique Gold and shade with Sable Brown. With the liner, dab on some broken lines and dots to make them look corky.

Glasses
Base each half with Gooseberry on the center. Shade that part with side-loaded Brandy Wine. Base the frames with Bright Green. Don't forget the nose piece on her face. Shade the edges of the frames with Midnite Green. Add a Light Buttermilk highlight to the pink area. Make sure to check the placement of the glasses so everything is painted in the right place.

Finishing
Paint the pole that holds the towels with two coats of Leaf Green. Also paint two coats of Leaf Green on the back of the cat and the bottom of the watermelon base.

Glue everything in place. If you wish to make it more secure, place two screws in the cat and the pole.

Spray-varnish all pieces. Tie the two watermelon slices onto her hands with jute. Now she's ready for any picnic or summer celebration. Pretty durn cute, if I do say so myself.

MATERIALS Wood Cutout Pieces
Acrylic Palette Antique White Light Buttermilk Khaki Tan Sable Brown Dark Chocolate Golden Straw Antique Gold Bright Green Leaf Green Midnite Green Gooseberry Brandy Wine Cherry Red Ebony Black	Brushes #4, 8 & 12 flat #1 round Long Liner	Other Supplies Sandpaper Wood sealer Graphite paper Stylus Spray varnish Jute Wood glue
Product Notes Acrylics by DecoArt Americana. Wood piece available from Pat Wooster, 123 Penny Lane, New Freedom, PA 17349 for $22.95 + $4.00 s&h (PA Residents add 6% sales tax).

Decorative Painting: Sponged Fruit Barrel

2008-08-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

Many times instead of drawing a pattern or pencil sketching a design, I use various sized sponges, to stamp on a basic layout or design. Stamping gives me the flexibility to quickly fit the design in and around corners on boxes, furniture or any other piece I'd like to decorate with leaves, flowers or fruit. I then use the same stamps to add my favorite colors from my paint palette. I hope this project will inspire you to create your own stamped designs.

Stamp on color with this easy and fun sponging technique.

Barrel Preparation
Stain with a walnut oil stain and allow to air dry for several days before painting.

Background Preparation
Base the background or black area for the fruit with Ebony Black and pull the leaves away from the edges, freehand with Ebocy Black. Use this area to size your project. It could be square, round or oblong. Since you're stamping the fruit, you can fill up the space adding more or less fruit as needed.

Making the Stamps
Make the "stamps" from 1/4" or 1/8" fine-textured foam, such as the kind used for packing in jewelry boxes. Place metal lipstick cases, perfume lids or other lids with sharp edges over the foam, then rub briskly on a wooden chopping board, thus creating neat circular shapes. Make four sizes as indicated in the pattern. Then attach these small circles to wood dowels or thread spools with a low-temp glue gun.

Cut the watermelon and banana shapes from scrap paper similar to a stencil. Fill the inside area with the "plum" stamp. (Only two each of the watermelon and banana were stamped so the paper stencil was sufficient.) Dab on the green and white on the watermelon with the edge of the "grape" stamp. Make the seeds with a teardrop stroke of Ebony Black and a small round. Use a small liner to add a Snow White highlight to one side of each seed.

Transferring the Pattern
Use white graphite paper or white chalk on the reverse side of the pattern and transfer the design to the black area. It's not necessary to trace all of the pattern lines. Transfer the cantaloupe, peach, pears, watermelon, plums and banana.

Applying the Stampled Shapes
Use the three larger stamps to stamp the plums, cantaloupe, pears and peaches with Snow White. Use a paper stencil for the banana and watermelon and fill in these areas with Snow White. Then use the smallest circle stamp and fill in around the fruit with Snow White grapes. When you've completed all these steps, each piece of fruit should be white (see workup on page 47.)

Applying Color
Following the color chart, stamp each piece of fruit in sequence as indicated, using the colors listed.

Detailing & Finishing
Using the #4 or 6 flat, paint Ebony Black shadows around the fruit. Using a small liner and Ebony Black, make stems and curlicues.

Complete the project with your favorite finish.

ACRYLIC PALETTE		BRUSHES	OTHER SUPPLIES	PRODUCT NOTES
MATERIALS 10" x 6" wood surface, or wooden barrel, 11" high, 29" circumference
Forest Green Pumpkin Snow White Red Iron Oxide Tangerine True Red Kelly Green Ebony Black True Blue Salem Blue	Sea Aqua Blush Lemon Yellow Hauser Light Green Dioxazine Purple Lavender Orchid Evergreen Avocado	Large basecoat brush or sponge #4 or 6 flat Small liner Small round	Walnut oil stain Wood dowels or spools 1/4"- or 1/8"- thick packing foam Low-temp glue gun Sharp metal caps or lids White graphite paper or white chalk Wood finish or varnish	Acrylics by DecoArt Americana.

Decorative Painting: Chatty Birds

2008-08-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

Send a joyful message on this elegant stationery to someone special. This grand prize winner of our mail art contest comes from Tokyo, Japan.

I call these two facing birds the "chatty birds," and they're one of my favorite painting motifs. I decided to paint them with some wildflowers for my entry in the mail art contest. As I was taking a walk around my house one day, I was inspired by the bright green clover which trembled in the spring breeze. In the sunlight, the leaves were fresh and the little pink flowers looked so sweet. I decided to paint them to complement the birds.

Preparation

Use a sharp pencil to trace the pattern on tracing paper. Transfer the design onto good quality letter paper and matching envelope using light colored transfer paper and a stylus. At this time transfer only the outline for the birds, leaving out the facial features, beak, feet and the feathers. Omit the clusters of wild berries.

Birds

Base the body with Lt. Ivory, using a #4 flat brush. Side load the brush with a thinned mix of Burnt Umber and Bouquet to shade along the head to the belly area. When dry, transfer the pattern for the eye, beak, feet and feathers.

Fully load a #2 round brush with Lt. Ivory and dip the tip of the brush in Burnt Umber to paint the comma strokes for the tail. Then paint the shorter feathers for the wings and back. The one longer feather is painted in the same way, but use a larger brush, if desired. Re-stroke some of the shorter feathers including the tail with thinned Bouquet.

Use a #10/0 liner for the details. Fill in the beak with Butter Yellow and outline with Burnt Umber. Paint the feet with Burnt Umber, adding a tiny dot at the tiptoes. The feathers next to the eye are Burnt Umber.

Paint a Black dot for the eye with the stylus and highlight the bottom with White. The eyelashes are done with Black. The cheek is a wash of Tompte Red done with the brush handle end. Allow to dry.

Leaves and Stems

Base all the leaves with Stonewedge, using a #0 or #2 flat brush. You can shade the inner areas with a side load of Turquoise and highlight some of the outer edges with Lt. Ivory. However, any areas of these stylized leaves could be shaded or highlighted. Add the veins with the #10/0 liner and Lt. Ivory, then add a Turquoise dot in the center with a stylus.

Paint the stem lines with a #1 script liner. Paint one of the two longer stems under the birds with Green Sea and the other with Alpine. Paint the rest of the shorter stems with either color as desired. Color variety in this delicate linework will enhance the design as a whole.

Flowers and Buds
Fill in each flower petal with a mix of Bouquet + a touch of Lt. Ivory and Tompte Red, using the #0 flat brush. Add highlights with the #10/0 liner and Lt. Ivory, then place a dot of Butter Yellow in the center and surround with a few Tompte Red dots.

Paint strokes for the bud with the #2 round brush and the same mix as for the flower petals, then add an "S" stroke to the edge with Lt. Ivory. Paint the bract and stem with the #10/0 liner and Stonewedge, then put a Green Sea dot at the bottom.

Wild berries are clusters of small dots of Silver and 14K Gold. They're just suggested and are painted like a bunch of grapes using the stylus.

MATERIALS Letter paper (6 3/8" x 8 1/2" and envelope 4 3/8" x 6 9/16", Moonstone Grey 100% cotton fiber
Acrylic Palette 14K Gold Alpine Black Bouquet Burnt Umber Butter Yellow Green Sea Lt. Ivory Silver Stonewedge Tompte Red Turquoise White	Brushes #0, 2 & 4 flats #2 round #10/0 liner #1 scrpit liner	Other Supplies Pencil Transfer paper, light colored Stylus Tracing paper
Product Notes Acrylics by Delta Ceramcoat. Brushes by Loew-Cornell (7300 flats, 7000 rounds, 7050 and 7350 liners). Stationery from Crane & Co., Inc., Dalton, MA.

Decorative Painting: Collector's Shelf

2008-08-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

When I realized I was picking up my paint brush more often than my rolling pin, it seemed the next logical step was to paint the pin.

Preparation
Prepare a box to hold the rolling pin while you paint to prevent it from rolling. Notch the sides to allow the pin to hang suspended within the box by the handles.

Seal the rolling pin if there is no finish on it. I purchased one that was pre-finished, so I sprayed with matte finish spray before painting.

Lightly transfer the design with graphite paper, making sure to keep the shelf level across the rolling pin.

Dishes & Pitcher

* Very Dark (VD): D + Burnt Umber
* Dark (D): Raw Sienna + White + touch Black
* Medium (M): White + Raw Sienna
* Light (L): M + White
* Highlight (HL): White

Paint in the following sequence: small dish, large dish and pitcher.

Base the small dish referring to the workup and color placement map. Blend. Shade inside the rim with D and blend out. Add HL and refine the shading with VD. After blending, mop to remove any brush marks. Thin the light mix with turpentine and paint the outside rim. Repeat for the large dish.

Block in the colors on the pitcher and blend. Establish the contour of the pitcher with D on the inside neck curves and under the handle (refer to the color placement map). Add HL and blend out. Refine the shading with VD. Mop blend. The pitcher rim is thinned Raw Sienna + Burnt Umber. Add rim HL with L mix.

Crock

* Very Dark (VD): D + Black
* Dark (D): M + Black
* Medium (M): White + Raw Sienna + Cadmium Yellow Light + Ultramarine Blue
* Light (L): M + White
* Highlight (HL): White

Block in L, M and D values; blend. Shade under the rim and the top curve of the crock using mixes a value darker than the basecoat. Blend out. Increase shading with VD where needed. Add HL; blend and mop the entire crock.

Crock Stripe

* Dark (D): Permanent Red Violet + Paynes Gray + White + touch Cadmium Yellow Light
* Medium (M): D + White
* Light (L): M + White
* Highlight (HL): White

Use the stylus to mark stripes in the wet paint of the crock. Place stripe values coordinating with crock values, dark on dark, etc. Blend. Strengthen HL on entire crock.

Bean Pot

* Very Dark (VD): Burnt Umber
* Dark (D): Raw Sienna + Burnt Umber
* Medium (M): D+ White
* Light (L): White + Raw Sienna
* Highlight (HL): White

Block in L, M and D values. Blend. Shade under the rim with D and blend down. Block in handles and knob. Blend. Add HL. Refine shading with VD. Mop. Use L on liner brush to make comma stroke design.

Flowers

Color mixes are the same as for the crock stripe. Fluff in D, then overstroke with the liner brush going from M, L to HL. Add a few dot centers with Cadmium Yellow Medium.

Leaves

* Dark (D): Leaf Green + Burnt Umber
* Light (L): Leaf Green + White + touch Cadmium Yellow Light

Double load a small blender with D and L mixes. Blend on palette. Randomly place a few leaves around the flowers.

The pattern on the dishes is three stylus dots of the M crock stripe and two comma strokes of the L leaves.

Add violet accents to the pitcher and the bean pot with the flower values. Refer to the color placement map and worksheet. This can be done now while still wet or when dry it can be scrumbled or glazed on.

Tablecloth

* Dark (D): Medium value from crock
* Medium (M): D + White
* Light (L): M + White
* Highlight (HL): White

Tape off the tablecloth area. Press the edges tightly to seal. Block in the color values and blend. Add the HL and blend. Mop to remove any brush marks. Remove the tape. Add the stripe with the M value from the crock stripe. Add the edge trim with L comma strokes after you've painted the shelf.

Shelf

Paint Raw Sienna and shade wi th Burnt Umber near cloth edges. Use Burnt Umber and L from the pitcher with the chisel edge of a flat brush make streaks to resemble wood grain.

Finishing

After the piece is thoroughly dry, finish with your favorite brand of varnish. To display, put a dot of hot glue to the handle back where it meets the roller to keep it stationary.

OIL PALETTE		BRUSHES	OTHER SUPPLIES
MATERIALS Rolling pin, 7"-long barrel
Burnt Umber (S) Cadmium Yellow Light (L) Cadmium Yellow Medium (L) Ivory Black (S) Leaf Green (S)	Paynes Gray (S) Permanent Red Violet (R) Raw Sienna (L) Titanium White (S) Ultramarine Blue (L)	#2, 4, & 6 blenders #00 liner 1/4 wee mop	Sealer Graphite paper Stylus Box to hold rolling pin Odorless turpentine Masking tape Matte-finish spray Decorative wire hanger Hot glue gun and glue Varnish
PRODUCT NOTES Oils by Shiva (S), Liquitex (L) and Rembrandt (R). Brushes by Silver Brush, Ltd.; Golden Natural 2020S #2, 4 & 6 blenders, 2005S #00 liner, 5319S 1/4" wee mop. Matte spray finish by Krylon #1311. Rolling pins available at hardware and houseware stores. Wire hanger (2 1/4" heart and 8" bar) available for $5.00 ppd from Tole House, 5840 Maple Dr., Mission, KS 66202; (913) 722-0104.

Sunflower Gift Bag

2008-08-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

I enjoy creating! When I sit down at my craft table, it's an adventure every time to see what will evolve. I like to use a variety of textures for a multi-dimensional look. Sunflowers are wonderful subjects, so I started with the basic idea on watercolor paper. Then I added hot glue for the center texture, a clay pot, wooden crow and jute. Voila-another adventure complete!

Procedure

Preparation: Transfer the pattern for the pot and leaves onto the bag (note placement in photo), using transfer paper. Transfer the flower pattern onto watercolor paper and cut out. Using a glue gun, apply glue in random squiggles to the center of the flower for texture. Let dry.

Pot: Paint the pot, using Butterscotch. Shade under the pot rim and under the leaves with Rusty Nail; highlight with a small amount of Warm White, using a dry-brush technique and a fabric brush.

Leaves: Paint the leaves with Sea Foam. Add a touch of Licorice to the Sea Foam and shade on one edge and near the flower. Add Warm White to the Sea Foam and highlight the leaves with a dry-brush (see photo). Fill in the areas between the leaves with Nutmeg.

Flower: Paint the petals with School Bus Yellow. Shade with Harvest Gold where they meet the center. Highlight with a touch of Warm White on the petal edges. Paint the center with Cinnamon. Shade toward the middle with Nutmeg, then dry-brush Warm White in the very center area. Use the 01 permanent black marker to detail the flower petals and leaves (including veins) and to outline the pot.

Assembly: Using hot glue, attach the 1' square sponge to the back of the flower, and then glue the flower to the bag at the top of the leaves. Spatter the bag with an old toothbrush and watered down Licorice. Drill a small hole in the top of the bird body. Paint the bird with Licorice. Dot the eye with Warm White, using the tip of the brush. With the permanent marker, write "To" and "From" on a small clay pot. Thread the jute through the hole in the bird and tie a knot. Then thread up through the bottom of the clay pot and tie to the bag handle. Spray with matte finish.

While you're at it, paint several bags at once. They fold and stack up conveniently and can be assembled in a jiffy when you need a quick wrap.

MATERIALS Bag with handles, approx. 8" x 10", natural color
Acrylic Palette Butterscotch Cinnamon Harvest Gold Licorice Nutmeg Rusty Nail School Bus Yellow Sea Foam Warm White	Brushes Large basecoat brush or sponge #4 or #8 flats #6 round Fabric brush	Other Supplies Transfer paper 2" clay pot Jute, 1/2 yd. natural colored 1" square sponge Watercolor paper 01 permanent black marker Old toothbrush Hot glue gun Wooden bird cutout Matte spray
PRODUCT NOTES Paints by Plaid Folk Art. Brushes by Robert Simmons - #4 & #8 flats and Loew-Cornell - #6 round. Permanent black marker 01 by Sakura Pigma Micron.

Filete Porteno: Filete Welcome

2008-08-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Learn to paint "Filete" -a beautiful art form that was introduced to Buenos Aires by European immigrants and came to define the city's ornamental style.

This project is an introduction to a fascinating popular technique that was born at the beginning of the century in Buenos Aires, called Filete Porteno. The etymological meaning of the word "Filete" is thread, from the Latin "filum," and it stands for "a thin line used as ornament." "Porteno," in a restricted sense, refers to Buenos Aires and its port, as well as its inhabitants and everything connected to the city. As poet Horacio Ferrer once put it, "A traditional art form and humble finery of the popular Buenos Aires, 'Filete' proudly and fondly embellishes carts and trucks, greengrocer's signboards and quaint, little flower windows. It has been handed down from masters to apprentices, recasting old European traditional patterns into a truly original Argentine art."

Filete is traditionally done with lettering brushes and enamel paint diluted with thinner or turpentine. But for this "Welcome" project, I've used acrylic paints and artists' brushes to make it easier for painters who are new to the technique and also to provide more versatility for multiple uses and surfaces-fabric, wood and so on.

Preparation
First clean your surface thoroughly and let dry completely. Trace the pattern onto tracing paper, then use transfer paper to transfer just the outer and inner ovals and the banner.

Backgrounds and Basecoat of the Banner
Paint the banner with Peaches & Cream and the inside oval with an equal mixture of Red Violet + Dioxazine Purple (see Step 1 of the workup). For the background, use Blue Mist and your 1/4" flat brush. Note: The paint must be lightly diluted, so it might be necessary to apply two or three layers for good coverage, depending on the paint. Once the basic colors have dried, transfer the rest of the pattern.

Basecoat
Paint the letters, the ornaments (top and bottom) and the outer border with True Ochre. If you're painting on canvas and mounting on a stretcher frame, add an extra 3/4" of True Ochre around the border to allow for covering the outside of the stretcher. Also, use True Ochre to paint the flower stamens. Next, paint the flower petals with Boysenberry (see Step 2).

Shading
Shade the ornaments and letters with Burnt Sienna, using the #6 script liner (see Step 3). Shade from the top to the middle of the letters and then add a thin line at the base of the letters. Shade the folds in the banner with Shading Flesh as shown in the workup, then shade the flowers with Cadmium Orange.

Highlights
Highlight all the elements with Snow White as shown in the photo: this includes light areas and edges on the banner, the top of the lettering and accents on the ornaments. Also highlight the tops of the flower petals and the stamens. Next, use the #2 script liner and Burnt Sienna to make the border line which separates the True Ochre of the outer border from the Blue Mist background.

If your welcome sign is going to be hung outdoors, use an old brush to apply several coats of protective varnish.

ACRYLIC PALETTE		BRUSHES	OTHER SUPPLIES
MATERIALS Artist canvas, 12" x 14" & oval stretcher frame, 9 1/2" x 11 3/4" or oval wood cutout, 9 1/2" x 11 3/4"
Blue Mist Boysenberry Burnt Sienna Cadmium Orange Dioxazine Purple	Peaches & Cream Red Violet Shading Flesh Snow White True Ochre	#2 & #6 script liners 1/4" one=stroke flat Old brush	Satin varnish Tracing paper Transfer paper
PRODUCT NOTES Acrylics by DecoArt Americana. Brushes by Loew Cornell: Series 7050 #2 & #6 script liners; Series 8100 1/4" one-stroke flat. Satin varnish by DecoArt.

Buenos Aires artist Jorge Muscia is the "unofficial ambassador of the fileteado art form" which became popular around the turn of the century in Argentina. More projects and information about the decorative art (and its link to the tango) are available in Jorge's book El Filete: Popular Art of Buenos Aires, published by Jackie Shaw Studio, 13306 Edgemont Road, Smithsburg, MD 21783.

Free Pattern Project: Calla Lilly

2008-07-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Palette :

DecoArt American Acrylics.

Black green DA 157
Plantation Pine DA 113
Jade Green DA 57
Golden Straw DA 168
Moon Yellow DA 7
Buttermilk DA 3
Toffee DA 59
Titanium White DA 1
Control Medium DAS11
Brush and Blend DAS1
Satin Varnish DS15

Brushes:

Flat brushes: 1 1/2, (I use Loew Cornell)
Number 3 Round brush.
Fine liner brush 1/2 size 00 or smaller

Materials:

Piece of firm card. 5 1/2 x 7 1/4 (I have used a scrap of mounting board)
Tracing paper
White Graphite paper
Picture frame (The sample is 5 1/2 x 7 1/4)

Background Preparation:

1. Base entire area with one coat of black green. Allow to dry.

2. Place on your palette puddles of Black Green, Plantation Pine and Jade Green.

3. Coat entire area in control medium.

4. While still wet pick up some Black Green and Plantation Pine on your 1 1/2 flat brush and slip slap in a cross hatch fashion over the base coat around the edges. Pick up the lighter Jade colour as you move towards the center of the background.

5. The amount of light and dark colour is entirely up to you. The light in the center should have a soft halo effect. Pitty pat with your brush to move paint around, blend and soften. The control medium allows you to do this.

6. Allow to dry thoroughly.

7. Trace the pattern onto tracing pattern and apply to the card using your favorite method. (I used White graphite)

Painting:

1. Base Lilly flower in Buttermilk using round or smaller flat brush. At least 2 Coats will be needed. You need opaque coverage on the darker background.

2. Double load the round brush with Plantation Pine and Jade Green and paint in the leaves and stems. If using two strokes, keep the darker colour to the center.

3. Pick up straight Jade on the side of the brush where you originally had the Jade and paint the light edges of the leaves. Use a drop and lift action to get a gentle wave.

4. Float highlights with Jade and shadows with Black green using your 1/2 flat brush. Brush and Blend loaded into the brush will help the paint to flow smoothly.

5. Retrace lines onto the Lilly if needed. Float a shadow of Antique white.

6. Deepen shadow with a further float of Toffee.

7. Highlight with Titanium White.

8. Paint the stamen with your liner brush by loading in both Golden Straw and Moon Yellow as you would with a round brush. Tap little dots into the stamen area. Pick up more of the lighter colour for the right hand side.

9. Glaze the Lilly by loading the flat brush in brush and blend, then picking up a minute amount of Black green on one corner. Wipe the colour through the brush so you can just see it as a tint on your palette. Tint the Lilly at the throat and under the rolled over petal.

10. Allow to dry.

Finishing:

1. Varnish with satin varnish. Do not overwork the paint. Paint a coat in one direction. When this is dry paint a second coat the other way.

2. Allow to cure for a few days before mounting into a picture frame.

Congratulations! You are done

Project Tip:

When floating colour never have excess colour on the outside of the brush. Wipe the excess away on a paper towel. Otherwise you will be likely to have ridges of colour or medium.

Decorative Painting: 51 Tips for Painting Eyes (Part 3)

2008-07-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

Here is how you do put in the lines:

39. Put a speck of black in the center of the point where you are going to put the pupil. Use this speck as a center reference. Make a light and dark wash using the dark color of your iris color. Exp. if you used lt. blue for your iris, make these lines with a navy or similar dark blue.

From your dot of black draw straight lines of varying lengths out toward the outside edge of your iris. Keep your lines thin. Turn your piece as you are doing this. Vary the light/darkness of color you are using. Every now and then bring your line to touch the outside edge of the iris. (Think of the spokes of a old covered wagon but with more spokes :o) Make sure these lines extend past the point of however large you are going to make your pupil or you'll just cover them up with the pupil.

Let dry

Now go to the outside edge and do the same thing going toward the center but don't make these lines as long. To make it easier do a bumpy outline and pull your lines inward toward the center point from this bumpy outline. Just do a small section at a time, you don't want to give your paint time to dry. You do not pull the lines as far as you did the first time. Just squiggle your bumpy line and pull in with a little ragged motion. It's OK if you cover up some of the previous lines. Make sure your lines are straight. If you make a
wobbly line, clean it up immediately.

The outside edge of the iris is just a tad darker, to outline the outside edge add just a tad of black to your iris color, make a med. wash, then outline. This will also clean up the edge from the above process. If you are not happy with this line and it's a bit raggedy, you can pull some little lines from this darker color just as you did previously.

This process is a little more time consuming than some directions I've read for doing eyes, but believe me, you can come out with a really beautiful eye.

Shadows:

40. Shadows can go 1/4, 1/3 or 1/2 across the width of the eye. You make them narrow on the points increasing the width as you go across the eye. Sort of like a modified "S" stroke.

41. You can make shadows out of a generic thinned down black but a prettier shadow is made using the iris color first then going back over that with a VERY thin float of black.

42. You do not have to float the shadow. You can just paint a thin wash across the eye. You can leave the edge of your shadow sharp or feather it to make it soft.

Eyelashes:

43. Lashes on men/boys are shorter/stubbier than the lashes for girls/women. In reality men can have beautiful long lashes but this method gives a masculine look.

44. A good place to check out styles of lashes is your local store that sells false eyelashes. lol It will give you a idea on shapes, lengths, thickness etc.

45. This is a little hard to explain but follow the curve of the upper lid as the angle for the curve in your lashes. It might help to hold a piece of paper at a pleasing angle and lightly pencil in the spot and angle of your lashes, leave a small space in-between your marks, you can fill those spots in later. Vary the lengths.

46. The longest lashes are on the outside corner of the lid. Curve the lashes out but straighten them somewhat as you bring them toward the center. The lashes immediately over the iris are slightly curved but almost pointing straight up. (I sure hope that makes sense.)

47. You do not want the bottom lashes to overpower the upper lashes. Use a slightly lighter and thinner color. Make shorter and sparser lashes, curve each side gently toward the center.

48. Use your skin tone color to clean up and thin out your lashes if necessary. This is the reason you put in your eyes before shading the skin.

49. Add a light float of iris color right over your eyelashes. This will act as eye shadow plus help set off the eyes.

50. You can also add a very, very light thin float of the iris color over the bottom lashes.

51. To represent the thickness of the bottom lid, you can put in a thin line of a pinkish red color then outline it with a darker tone of the skin color. Gently shadow beneath this.

Decorative Painting: 51 Tips for Painting Eyes (Part 2)

2008-07-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

19. Highlight the whites of the eye for added interest. You can do this using a dab of straight white and just dab and dot it (not too much) on the lower outside section of the eye socket. You can put just a dot on the opposite side of the socket. This is another reason I never use white for the base coat. If you used white, you could not highlight it. You can also use a TINY speck of iris base color beside this highlight in
the whites of the eye.

20. Using a VERY, VERY light tiny float using the dark tone of skin tone color, float along the bottom of the whites of the eye. You almost do not want to be able to see it. This will help set them in.

21. Black/brown, a very dark brown is a better choice for outlining the lid of the eye, rather than using solid black. Black can be a bit overwhelming. There are only a couple of exceptions of certain skin types that would require straight black.

22. Don't enclose the entire eye with bold outlining. A LIGHT line on the bottom with a darker line across the top is enough. You might need to use two strokes across the top lid, using a med. wash.

23. You can gently emphasize the iris by painting a med. wash of your outline color under the iris, extending it a little on both sides.

Misalliance:

24. Put a tiny, pale smudge of red on the inside corner of the eye (as close as you can make it to toward the nose and still be inside the tear opening.) Give just a tiny hint of red on the opposite side of the corner of the socket as well.

25. You can also outline the bottom of the white of the eye to give the impression of blood in the eye. Use the lightest red wash possible, and paint a very thin float along the bottom of the eye, on the white right next to the bottom lid. If you do this too heavy or thick you'll make the person look like they've been on a bender. lol

26. On the recess of the lid, over the iris paint a very thin wash of a reddish color. This will help give depth.

27. Remember eyes are the window to the soul. Eyes are usually the first thing a person will notice and if they are done badly it will distract from the rest of the piece no matter how well the piece is finished.

28. Use a good talkon brush with excellent shape, bounce and snap. For outlining, use a liner in excellent
condition.

29. Nothing living is just one solid color. This also applies to irises so you can put entirely different colors in the iris and have it look real. Actually it will look more real if you do that rather than just using one
solid color.

30. One eye will always be harder to do than the other. If you are right- handed, the left will be the hardest eye. Do the hardest eye first.

31. Eyes do not have to exactly match each other in color, most (if not all) of us have a little variance of eye color in each eye.

32. I do not ever use white for the eye socket color. Hold a white piece of paper next to your eyes and look in the mirror. Eyeballs are not solid white. To me plain white looks stark and artificial.

33. A white eye socket will interfere with the highlights that you place on the pupil & iris. If you use white for the eye socket, then use white for highlights, the highlight color will not stand out as much as it should.

34. Use ivory, very lt. blue, very lt. gray etc. to base coat eye socket. ...depending on the skin type you are painting. Keep your coats smooth as you are base coating.

A larger eye iris:

35. Base coat (using a med. wash) a larger iris with a light color. Don't worry about putting in a smooth, solid base coat for the iris. Light and dark streaks will give it a more realistic look.

36. You can also add other colors on top of your dried first iris color. The colors can be entirely different. For example, say you used a light blue wash for your first color. You can then dab on a green wash of color dabbed here and there on top of that, followed by another color dabbed on the same way.
Just don't cover up all your previous colors. This really makes a beautiful iris.

37. The iris will almost always touch the top and bottom of the eye. It will touch more of the bottom than it will than at the top. But try to make the pupils as even as possible from side to side.

38. The tiny lines in the eyes are there to help the pupils contract and enlarge. You do not really need these in a tiny eye but they sure make a larger eye look better. Actually a large eye would be boring without lines. If you are going to put in these lines, do it before you put in the pupil.

Decorative Painting: 51 Tips for Painting Eyes

2008-07-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

I like to paint eyes. Even though I mainly paint eyes on ceramic pieces, these hints can be used for wood. Keep in mind, there are many ways to do eyes, these tips are just my opinions for the way I like to do them.

Do not shade the skin before you put in the eyes.

Tiny Eye:

1. For a tiny eye, block in the iris with a med. color using a med. wash and leave streaks. Streaks help make the iris look real. For the larger eye I use a light color instead of the medium for the base coat. Outline the iris color with a touch of black the same as you would do for a larger eye as described later.

2. Use only a small speck of white for a highlight. If your speck is too large for a tiny eye, it will overwhelm and could make the eyes look blind.

3. A tiny eye doesn't need a lot of work. Outline the upper edge and lightly feather the outside edge for an
impression of lashes.

Pupil:

4. To a make pupil, for a large or tiny eye, put a dot of black in the center, enlarge pupil while turning your piece to judge distance to the sides.

5. Pupils are always black but they don't have to be boring. For variety and added sparkle you can float a dark blue color in a C type of stroke along the bottom outside (going toward the center) edge. It will mostly disappear but will add just a touch of life to the pupil.

6. Don't make your pupil in the shape of a U as you slide it to the top of the eye.

7. Size of pupil: a large pupil looks innocent (remember Bambi?) or young. Small pupils can give
a mean look.

8. Try to keep the pupil and iris a round shape even though you'll have to imagine
the top roundness of the iris since part of it will be hidden under the eyelid.

9. If the pupil is not round enough to suit you, you can put the main highlight over the area to hide it.
Just make sure put the same highlights is in the same place in each eye. (1 o'clock, 11 o'clock etc.)

10. Check your eyes in a mirror. This will help you see if they are even or not.HAHA...I mean check the eyes of your piece in a mirror.

Highlights:

11. Since I mentioned highlights, I'll talk a little about them. But keep in mind that shadows (which I'll get into later) go on before highlights. If you put the highlight on, then the shadow, you will just darken your highlight and lose the effect.

12. Eye will reflect the color of the closest light source. So you can have different colors of highlights in the eyes. (Think about standing next to a lighted Christmas tree or colored curtains with the sun shining through.) But the main or primary highlight will be white because that is the lightest we can go.

13. You can put part of the highlight on the iris, just make sure part of it is also on the pupil for the greatest contrast.

14. Use a secondary smaller highlight opposite the main highlight. Just a tiny speck of white will work fine.

15. To make a little more special secondary highlight put a TINY speck of your iris color next to the secondary highlight. Keep these little highlights on the pupil. If you are not going to go with a third highlight (described below) you can float a small C stoke of white on the pupil instead of using the tiny dots.

16. You can put in a softly floated highlight using a THIN wash of white placing it on the iris below the small secondary highlights above. (Following the curve of the iris.) This will also make your eye look rounder.

17. Primarily highlights can be in almost any shape. All a highlight is... is a reflection of light. A plain round dot is probably the most boring highlight you can use on the larger eye. You can use a wedge shape, a tornado, a skid or most any shape.

18. Your main highlight is the largest highlight, second and third highlights are smaller.

Decorative Painting: Ribbon and Lace Worksheet

2008-07-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Doily

Block in the main color for the doily.
Place the paper doily on top of the wet paint and dab in the dark color using a sponge or sponge brush.
This will give you the design work of the doily. Touch up the areas around the edges or put your background around it.

Ribbons

Block in the dark color at both ends of the ribbon followed by the medium color with the light color inthe center of the ribbon. Blend these colors together.
Add a lae edge using a liner brush thinned with turp and coice of color.
Where the ribbon twists would be the start of dark, medium and then light color in the center.

Decorative Painting: Extras and Fillers Worksheet

2008-07-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

When you come back for a fresh look at your painting, focus on areas that may be too bright or dull, bare spots may need more filler, and you cay want to add curls, twigs, dabs and little extras to your painting. You will need to thin out the paint with thinner to do some of these techniques with the Liner brush. If using a mini mop, use this brush dry and just wipe off with a paper towel until finished for the day.

Baby's Breath

Brushes: Mini Mop Brush, Script Liner Brush

Use the liner brush and thin the paint with thinner and light green to put in some stems where you want the Baby's Breath.

Load the mini mop brush with Misty Grey and tap in the Baby's breath. Choose areas on your painting that need extra fillers.

Decorative Painting: Painting Poppies

2008-07-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

Painting Instruction:

OUTSIDE PETALS
(all O's on the Poppy Structure Worksheet/Petal Breakdown)

Brush:	Badger Flat Brush
Color	Medium Peach Mixture:	Deep Orange + Misty grey
Brush:	1/2" Sable Brush
Color:		Misty Grey + Titanium White Soft

Base in the outside petals of the poppy with the Medium Peach mixture. Make sure the paint is thin, smooth and wet with medium, but not runny. Don't do the main poppy yet, just the outside petals. Now ruffle the outside petals with Magic Grey + Medium Peach Mixture. Load the brush on one side only with paint. Place the brush with the loaded side facing up, then touch the brush to the top edge of the petal and pull the stroke toward the center of the outside petal. Go all around the outside petals.

CENTER PETALS
(all C's on the Poppy Structure Worksheet/Petal Breakdown)

Brush:	Badger Flat Brush
Colors:	Base color:	Medium Peach Mixture
	Center color:	Alizarin Crimson

This is the same procedure as the back petals, only I added some Alizarin Crimson to the center of the flower; This gives it depth. Curve your strokes so you have a fan shape petal. After you put your base color in, then ruffle the edges of the petals as stated above.

FRONT PETALS
(all F's on the Poppy Structure Worksheet/Petal Breakdown)

Brushes:	Badger Flat Brush, 1/2" Sable brush
Colors:	Medium Peach Mixture	Misty Grey + Titanium White Soft
Colors:	Highlight Color: Teal mix	Misty Grey + Tad of Phtalo Green

Again, this is the same procedure as the center petals. Then ruffle each petal and highlight petals here and there with a teal color.

Centers

Brushes	Round Brush, Script Liner
Colors:	Burnt Umber + Phtalo Blue	Titanium White + Indian Yellow

Load the brush with BU + PB and tap in the centers of the poppies. Dab and relearse, do not paint. Load the Liner brush with thinner and paint, then pull up and curve grass staments ina all directions. Dot the ends with IY + TW.

Decorative Painting: Lilacs Worksheet

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Brushes: Badger Filbert

Block in your medium color.
Use a filbert brush and add some dark shapes within the area and along the outside edge of the lilac in the shape of petals.
Add some light colors on top of the medium color in the shape of petals.
Dab centers on some of the flowers.

Decorative Painting: Rose Shortcuts

2008-07-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Rose/Poppy Shortcut Method

Base in the color of the rose/poppy you want using a flat brush.
While the paint is still wet, lay your traced outline (see below) of the rose/poppy pattern (using a tracing paper) on top of the area you just painted.
Use a stylus and outline the traced rose/poppy outline.
Lift the tracing paper off the canvas and you should have an outline of your rose/poppy.

Decorative Painting: Rose Structure

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Painting Roses

Follow the same instructions for painting Poppies. The only difference is the shape of the flower. The technique is the same.

Start with the Back Petals (BP)
Paint the Outside Petals (OP)
The Lower Petals next (LP)
The Side Petals are next (SP)
The Center of the rose is next (C)
The Front of the rose is last (F).

Decorative Painting: Rose Worksheet (Part 2)

2008-07-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

Brushes: Badger Flat 1/2", Sable Brush, Mini Mop

1. Trace the outline of the rose on the canvas

2. Block in your dark color.

3. Fillin the rest of the rose with the mediumcolor and a light color on the front of the rose.

4. blend al the rose where the two colors meet.

5. Continue to do the overlaying of the petals as described in first rose worksheet in this section.

Decorative Painting: Rose Worksheet

2008-07-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Brushes: Badger Flat 1/2", Sable Brush, Mini Mop

Base rose with color of choice using the Badger Flat Brush. Make sure this is not dry paint, but thinned with medium to the consistency of mayonnaise. Keep edges ragged and pull in other background colors. This makes the petals more transparent, so stretch the paint out. Locate the center of the rose and base in a lighter color than the base color. Soften into the base color.

Sketch in the rose using transfer paper over the wet paint or sketch in with thinned while oil paint. Look at the worksheet for placement.

Starting with the outside petals, load the Sable Brush with Petal Mix color ( which should be lighter than the base color). Place the brush at the outer tip of the petal. Pull down toward the center of each petal (shown on the Rose worksheet under ruffled petals). As the brush reaches the base of the petal, release the pressure. Overlap your strokes slightly. Soften any brush lines with the Mini Mop brush. Do the front of the rose last (shown on the worksheet under center petals.) Tip some of the petals with light blue

Tap centers in with the Mini Mop brush and thicker paint ( shown under finished rose.)

Decorative Painting: Fern Worksheet

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Ferns

Use the Liner Brush and mix thinner into your paint for an ink consistency to make the stems of the fern. Use the back corner of the flat brush to put small dabs on each side of the fern stem. You need to angle and stagger the dabs so they don’t look to stiff. Use one dab to start the fern, then get wider as you move down the stem.

Chisel Edge Ferns

Use the liner Brush and mix thinner into your paint for an ink consistency to make the stems for the ferns. Load the flat brush with paint and touch the canvas using the chisel edge of the brush, pull down some, then release the pressure as you pull toward the stem to get a tapered point. Complete on side of the fern and then the other side. Double load with another color if you like.

Stems with Dabs

Paint in the stems first (same as above). Load a round brush with paint and dab and release the brush with the point facing away from you. Start at the top of the stem and work down toward the bottom. Dabs on the bottom can be larger than the top dabs. Try loading the brush with a double load, one side green, the other with yellow

Dab Flowers

Follow the same procedures as above and make flowers using the same brush stroke. Place a dot of paint for the center of the star flower and make dabs around it in a star shape. Add the stems next or first.

Decorative Painting: Blade Leaves Worksheet

2008-07-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Blade Leaves

Use the chisel edge of the brush and paint a long stem where you want the blade leaf to be (see worksheet STEMS). This will determine the length of the blade.

Now use the flat side of the brush, start at the bottom of the blade leaf and pull toward the tip of the blade leaf. As you pull toward the tip, you need to have the brush on a chisel edge to get a pointed leaf. (See worksheet BLADE STROKE). This is just like Step 3 for the basic leaf only you have a longer leaf. The stroke should be completed in one continuous motion. If you don't like the first attempt, then just stroke over the blade again with the brush.

Turned blades can be added, just use a different value of color on the top and bottom of the blade leaves (see worksheet TURNED BLADES).

Use the chisel edge of the brush to add a vein down the center of the blade leaf.

Short Blades

Follow the same instructions as above only make the blades shorter. Use the chisel edge of the brush to make the stem, then decide where you want the blade and flatten the brush and pull away from you at the same time, then pull up on the chisel edge and pull for the point.

Short Blades Grouped

Follow instructions above but make blades still shorter and closer together for a different leaf grouping.

See what one brush stroke will create! Lots of greenery to add to your flowers.

Decorative Painting: Leaves Worksheet

2008-07-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

The worksheets were competed with the oil painter in mind. The instruction can easily be converted to acrylics by changing your brush and picking appropriate acrylic colors.

Brush used: Badger Flat 1/2", sable

Load the 1/2" Sable brush with a dark color of your choice on both sides of the brush to get a chisel edge.

Use the chisel edge and put in the veins for each leaf (step 1). Make sure you curve the vein, the length will determine how large the leaf will be.
Outline the shape of the leaf as shown on the worksheet with the chisel edge of your brush (Step 2).
Using the flat of the brush, fill in the center of the leaf by starting at the back of the leaf and pull toward the tip of the leaf (Step 3).
As you pull toward the tip, you will need to turn the brush from being on the flat side to being on the chisel point when you get to the end of the leaf. This is like a short blade leaf.
Now you need to put the sides on the leaf. Load the brush with a ;medium color of your choice. Start at the tip of the leaf, use the flat side of the brush and tip the edges of the leaf towards the center of the vein (Step 4). The brush is at an angle, see the worksheet for placement. Do one side, then the other
Now you can highlight the edges of the leaf with a a light color of your choice; leaf or flower color are nice choices (Step 5).
Load the brush on ONE SIDE ONLY and place the loaded side to the outside of the leaf's edge. Tip the edges here and there.
Just remember NOT to pull all the way to the center vein. Just TIP!

For a short cut method, follow steps 3 through 5 on the Leaf worksheet. Us the same method and do smaller leaves as shown.. One Stroke leaves are done using Step 3 of the Basic Leaf or Step 1 of the Short Cut method. (See Blade Leaves)