Page 113 - The Decorative Painter Summer 2014

BACKGROUND
The background is created quickly in several steps. Work in one area at a time, keeping the underlying water- color paper damp at all times. I prefer to begin above the left side of the checkered border and work my way around the piece. Apply the background color directly over the fairy’s wings, since it is their basecoat.
Begin by applying a wash of Spa Blue+clean water (1:1) over the entire background. Allow to dry completely.
Next, apply a blotchy wash of inky Calypso Blue over the initial background color, shading heavily around the fairy, above the length of the checkered border, along the top of the piece, and following the contours of both upper corners. Refer to the photo of the finished piece to better see where the heavily shaded areas lie. It is not necessary to allow this wash to dry before proceeding.
Apply inky True Blue+clean water (1:4) along the length of the checkered border. Continue with the mix along both the right and left edges of the piece and along
ACRYLIC
FLOWERS
the top to deepen the color of the skyline. This adds a natural border and balances the finished piece. Using the same mix, create the butterfly. Using the no. 1 liner with the same True Blue wash, add the butterfly.
WINGS
The wings were transferred with the main design, but if the background wash has made them hard to see they can be retraced. Apply a sweeping wash of Ultramarine Blue along the bottom edges of the wings, fading upward. A hint of the original background should be visible through the wash. Repeat the wash, staying near the bottom edges, until the color is strengthened to your liking. Allow the entire piece to dry completely.
DETAILS
With a new black Sharpie marker, outline most of the details in this piece. Referring to the photo of the finished piece, you will notice a few aspects of the painting that are not outlined. These are the butterfly, the three-petal leaves on the apron, and the circles that sit at the end of the spikes extending from the flowers.
Dot the ends of each point inside the flowers’ white ar- eas with Lamp Black. With Cadmium Orange on the no. 0 short liner, create the sprigs of hair that extend from the end of the fairy’s ponytail. Using the round end of a large brush, create the Snow White circles at the end of each spike. Allow the piece to dry overnight before proceeding.
FINISHING
Sign your piece before varnishing. Using the 1" glaze wash, apply one coat of DecoArt DuraClear Matte Varnish following the manufacturer’s instructions. This will lend amazing color vibrancy to the piece. Finish the piece by framing it as you wish.
Apply a wash of Boysenberry Pink+clean water (1:4) to each flower, including the one in the fairy’s hair. Notice that the flowers bear just a hint of this color. Allow to dry com- pletely. Apply a second wash of a slightly stronger Boysen- berry Pink+clean water mix only near the outer edges of the flowers. When this has dried completely, apply a third wash, this time only along the left and bottom edges. Basecoat the flowers’ centers with undiluted Snow White. Finish each flower by placing a dot of Boysenberry Pink in the center.
CHECKERED BORDER
Basecoat the pink areas with a wash of Vivid Violet+ clean water (1:5). Allow to dry. Add diagonal lines using the no. 0 liner with Vivid Violet+clean water (1:3).
artist’s sketch
Monika Brint fell in love with scrollwork while traveling through Austria, France, and Italy, where she discov- ered tiny shops overflowing with handmade painted toys and fairies. Soon after, Monika bought a scroll saw and began designing and publishing her own books. Monika’s diverse whimsical styles lend themselves to a wide audience, her greatest passion being everything Christmas. “I have always encouraged my students to paint whatever they wish, and to have fun with it—not to worry about how perfect it is or what is down on paper, but to go beyond that and find joy in what they make.”
Today, Monika is a published illustrator, artist, and teacher. She operates Molly’s World, a line of chil-
dren’s wall art décor, furniture, accessories, and storybooks; Life’s Little Charms, a line of rubber art stamps, cards, and prints; and Cranberry Licorice Designs, a unique collection of decorative painting designs, books, and prints. You may contact her at mbrintdesigns@cogeco.ca; visit her Etsy site at www.etsy.com/shop/cranberrylicorice.