THAT KISS...tutorial...Friday, January 31, 2014

I thought I would show you the process I went through to paint this heart that is featured on my Facebook post today.  As you know, I paint and design QUICK and EASY projects that can often be finished in a matter of moments, but I LOVE to use BRIGHT, Happy Colors and designs that, while simple, will make you feel happy...

The First thing that I do is gather my supplies...This is a picture of the actual plate I used to paint the design...You will notice the edges of the plate where I rubbed MOST all of the paint from my brush to "dry brush" the design...I try my best NOT to waste paint, so seldom is there a lot of paint left on my pallet. 

I use Americana Paints by DecoArt.  I LOVE the color selection and when I open a bottle, I KNOW exactly what the paint will be like~~it is consistent and covers so well!  I've been using this brand for over 20 years AND they are made in the USA!

I've been painting these 4x4 "coasters" so that I could make them into a pattern packet.  This is the 6th and final design that will be included in the pattern packet that will be ready in a few days.

I sanded the coaster and painted it with my base coat...it always takes two coats on this surface and I sand between coats.

I use old pieces of cardstock to cut my hearts...I cannot draw a balanced heart for anything...I get it a little closer by doing this...

I then trace around the heart...

I paint the heart...it will take two coats...

I could float a darker color around the edge, but I decided that I wanted to double load my brush to give some more texture to the piece...I load my flat brush with the base color and drag the edge through the darker color, keeping the darker color on the edge of the heart.

This is what the heart should look like....

 

This would have been fine to leave it like this, BUT I added more paint and re-painted the entire heart, hoping that I could leave several shades of color showing...I call this process wet-on-wet because I am mixing wet paint INTO wet paint, whereas, I usually add wet paint onto dry paint...I also added some light colors to the center of the heart to add highlights...DO NOT over mix your paint or you will end up with MUD...but don't worry if you do...let it dry and try again...it is JUST paint! 

I cut some lips from more cardstock...I normally would just paint them directly onto my design, BUT this gives me a chance to SEE the design BEFORE I paint it and tweek (no, I am NOT twerking) my placement of the lips...

I painted the lips with the darkest color and used the double-load process again to add a line to separate the lips...I used a light color to do this...I could EASILY have done this by floating a wash onto the lips, BUT I want to show you the process of wet-on-wet for those who have not yet mastered floating colors...The is such an easy technique, but like everything else, it does take some practice and you might have to play with your colors to get it as you like it...NOTICE the lighter and darker colors on the lips...

  

The above picture shows that I DID float around the edge of the piece so you can see what the float looks like...the picture below shows that I floated a dark color around the designs...see how the color FADES and should leave no harsh lines...

This picture shows what I was talking about earlier when I mentioned dry brushing...It is similar to stenciling...I got as MUCH of the paint off of the brush as I could and lightly DRY BRUSHED some highlights...DO NOT worry if you got them TOO light, just go over them with the darker colors...I tell you again...IT IS JUST PAINT!...don't stress...you WILL learn by making mistakes...embrace them and get out that blow dryer and just try again!  HAVE FUN!  =)

 

I printed off a font from the computer to add the writing...I usually freehand most of my writing, BUT I have used the computer a LOT of times...no need to be embarrassed...LOTS of people do that...it is STILL hand painted!  =)  I used Curlz~my FAVORITE font!

That is IT...I will attach a hanger before too long and it will be a small sign...I'm happy with it...I HOPE you have enjoyed seeing HOW I create a design and how simple it is WHEN you break it down step by step ...

I BELIEVE that anyone can do ANYTHING they WISH to learn...It might NOT look like someone's design, BUT I love the idea of making something YOUR OWN...we are ALL UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS and WHEN we learn to LOVE ourselves and learn to EMBRACE our talents, THEN we are on our way to being the WONDERFUL REFLECTION of our MASTER CREATOR....Blessing to YOU...~charlotte ♥