Page 89 - The Decorative Painter Spring 2017

PREPARATION
Sand the entire desk with fine-grit sandpaper. Basecoat the entire piece with one coat of Light Blue Mix+Jo Sonja’s All Purpose Sealer (2:1). Follow this coat with a second coat of Light Blue Mix+Jo Sonja’s Clear Glaze Medium (1:1). Use the 1⁄2" and 3⁄4" oval wash brushes for basecoat- ing and a no. 8 shader for basecoating tight corners.
Basecoat the edge around the desk, the underside of the lid and the floor of the desk with Primrose. This basecoat should be opaque. Sand between dry coats with 400-grit/fine sandpaper. Dry completely and transfer the pattern lines, lightly, with a wax-free transfer paper.
LET’S PAINT
Thin the paint with Jo Sonja’s Retarder Medium for transparent basecoating and load Retarder in the brush instead of water for floating, blotting on a paper towel to remove the excess medium. This method will give you smooth, transparent layers and plenty of open time to blend. Use a 1⁄4" to 3⁄4" mop brush to soften any time needed. Clean up areas of the design that get accidental color in them as you are working transparently. The fol- lowing layers might not hide any spillover.
It is important to note that graphite lines must be re- moved when your piece is completely dry to avoid lifting paint. I like to let my piece dry overnight or at least for a few hours. Use a Pink Pearl eraser – it will not leave a residue on your piece.
SIDES
First LaYer: Using the wet-on-wet method, work one side of the desk at a time. Use a no. 6 filbert to basecoat the strawberry Medium Red and to basecoat the leaves Light Green. Use a no. 4 filbert to basecoat the strawberry top with Light Green and the daisy centers with Medium Yel- low. Use a no. 2 liner to basecoat the strawberry stem Light Green. Use a no. 8 filbert to basecoat the border around the design area with Medium Blue. Dry completely. second LaYer: Using the wet-on-wet method, work one side of the desk at a time. Use a no. 8 filbert to float the first shade color on the strawberry using Medium Red. Use the same brush and float the first shade color on the leaves using Medium Green. Use the same color in a no. 8 flat to float the first shade on the strawberry top. Using a
Note that we will be working in transparent layers, un- less specified, throughout this design.
WET-ON-WET METHOD
To start, brush a thin layer of Jo Sonja’s Retarder Me- dium over the entire surface you will be working on with a 3⁄4" oval wash brush. Mop off the excess Retarder with a dry 1" Maxine’s mop brush. This goat hair brush works very well and leaves just the right amount of Jo Sonja’s Retarder Medium to work with.
I have indicated stopping points in the instruction for this piece. It is not possible for me to determine how quickly your surface will dry. If your surface dries before the instruction indicates, stop. Let it dry completely and retard the surface to begin painting again.
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The Decorative Painter • SPRING 2017 87