Page 34 - TheDecorativePainter_DP4_Winter_2018

Standing Bird — Dab a bit of Ultramarine Blue+Genesis Red (1:3) into the base of the underside of the tail and then carefully blend it down to about halfway the length of the tail. Mix a little thinned down Titanium White into the bottom of the tail and blend it into underside of the tail so that there is a gradient that goes from the end of the tail (lightest in color) to the base of the tail (darkest in color). Use the same thinned down Titanium White to focus on the feathers around the base of the leg. Use thinned down Titanium White to layer over the point where the wings meet the tail, creating a gradient on either side.
Sitting Bird — Fill in the beak with Carbon Black No. 1+Ultramarine Blue (1:1) and then thin Carbon Black No. 1+Ultramarine Blue (1:1) down to layer in more shadows at the base of the tail and to darken the belly even further where it meets at the tail. Add shadows near the shoulder of the bird then add dimension to the fluffy feathers about the wings. Draw in subtle lines to express the divisions of groups of feathers. Use Ultramarine Blue+Titanium White (1:3) and thin it down to shade on the edges
of the wings and to add dimension to the feathers. Use Ultramarine Blue+Titanium White (1:2) to give a gentle gradient between the back of the head into the back feathers, thinning the paint down as needed to create a smooth transition. Thin down some Titanium White and dab a few flat brushstrokes on the throat of the bird to give the illusion of texture.
Seed Pods — Use Yellow Ochre+Genesis Yellow (1:1) to draw around the edges of each seed pod hole. Inside each hole, use thinned down Ultramarine Blue+Titanium White (1:4) to paint a subtle gradient beginning at the bottom of each hole. Inside the top of each hole, use the Ultramarine Blue+Titanium White (1:1) to make a line parallel to the top of each hole to create a 3D appearance. Use thinned down Raw Umber+Yellow Ochre (1:1) to gently paint the top of the seed pod, darkening the places between the holes. Use Genesis Yellow+Yellow Ochre (1:1) to paint a thin rim- light along the edge of the bottom left of the pod.
Bells — Use Carbon Black No. 1+Ultramarine Blue (1:1) thinned down to paint the dark reflections on the bells. Use Titanium White to paint a thin line around the outer edge of the bells, making sure the edge of your #2 flat brush is sharp.
Background — Fill the background in with Carbon Black No. 1+Ultramarine Blue+Genesis Red (4:2:1). Use the #10 flat brush to block in the large open areas, then further fill in with the #6 flat brush before carefully refining the edges of the subject matter with the #2 flat brush. Use the #10 round brush to gently blend out any uneven brushstrokes.
After completing this third layer of paint, place the board carefully in the oven to heat-set the paint at about 170 degrees F for 11 minutes. Use caution in removing the board when the oven timer goes off.
FOURTH LAYER OF PAINT
Be sure the surface of your project is adequately cool to the touch before continuing to work over the existing layers of paint. Painting while the surface is hot could disrupt the heat-set process.
Flowers — Use Ultramarine Blue to draw in subtle veins from the flower center out toward the ends of the petals. Make sure your #2 flat brush has a good, sharp edge to ensure the lines aren’t fuzzy.
Standing Bird — Thin down Ultramarine Blue and add a layer over the leg and in the area at the base of the tail and behind the leg. Brush some of the thinned down Ultramarine Blue on the shoulder of the bird and blend it out to create a very gentle gradient. Use Titanium White to throw in a few brushstrokes at the throat of the bird, being careful not to blend them too much. Add a spot of Titanium White at the
STEP 3
STEP 4
32 TheDecorativePainter • WINTER 2018