Page 70 - The Decorative Painter Spring 2015

ACRYLIC
Hansa Yellow around that. Wipe the brush, and then apply Light Red to the center of the sky, and a small amount in the right sky. Pick up some Burgandy and Dark Burgandy on the 3⁄4" oval wash, and paint in the sky that shows in the cattail carving and across the board.
Clean the brush, and then dress it with extender. Now add Titanium White to the brush, and begin blending the sky colors together. Do this using a sweeping motion, lifting the brush at the end of each stroke.
Work this downward, from the top of the sky toward the bottom, until the desired blending is achieved. Keep in mind that this is only the first layer, so it is O.K. if streaks are visible. Allow the first layer to dry completely, and then repeat the entire process. As you apply this second layer, the streaks will blend away. When the desired look is achieved, allow the entire piece to dry.
Use the same brush to apply the glazing medium, allowing it to dry before moving on. The glazing medium will act like a protective barrier, protecting the paint beneath. If you make a mistake while painting on top of the dried glazing medium, it can easily be wiped off.
BOYS
BODIES: To paint the boys, use the nos. 4 and 6 flats, and the no. 6 round. Choose the appropriately sized brush for the area in which you are working. Apply extender to the area you are working on before you begin to paint. Both boys are painted according to the same instructions.
Begin with one boy (I began with the boy on the left), and when he is finished paint the other. The boys are already basecoated with Flesh, but apply a bit more now. Create a lighter skin color by adding a touch of Titanium White to Flesh, and use this color on the tops of the shoulders and ears, and on the side of the face. Wipe the brush on a paper towel, and then add a touch of Burnt Umber to the Flesh, and apply the shadows to the arms. Wipe the brush, pick up extender, and begin blending these colors.
When the desired look has been achieved, allow the piece to dry completely. Ap- ply extender, and then begin applying the second layer of paint. Use a mop to soften the colors.
OVERALLS: Apply a touch of extender to Denim. If this color needs to be darkened for certain areas, simply add a touch of Carbon Black. To lighten this color for the stripes and the lightest highlights, add a bit of Titanium White. Use these darkened and lightened hues of Denim to create the overalls’ folds and highlights. The folds and pleats are made with a dark color on one side, and a highlight on the other. Use a mop to soften these, but do not work out the pleats. Don’t forget the clothing labels! The boy’s on the left is Medium Red, and the other is Titanium White. The seams below the overalls’ shoulder straps are Demin Blue+tch Carbon Black, and the snaps on the tops of the shoulders are Denim. The seats of the pants do not need to be perfect, since grass will cover them a bit. HAIR: Basecoat the hair with Raw Sienna. The crown is Burnt Umber. Note that the boys’ hair grows in different directions. Using one of the rakes with Yellow Oxide and Burnt Sienna, define the direction of hair growth on each head. Allow this to dry com- pletely, and then add Hansa Yellow highlights throughout the hair.
GRASS
Apply extender to the grass area. Using a rake, thin the Dark Green with water so that it flows off the brush. With the 1⁄2" rake, pull grass from the bottom up. Pull a few long strands into the sky area here and there, and paint a few darker strands randomly throughout the grass. Wipe the brush, and then pick up water-thinned Medium Green, pulling a few more strands here and there. When you near the bottom of the grass area, these lights and darks will overlap and layer. Allow this to dry completely, and then using
68 The Decorative Painter
• ISSUE NO. 1, 2015 DECORATIVEPAINTERS.ORG