Thyme to paint Needlework Nellie

Today 

I wanted to show you a design 

by 

Cynthia Erekson

that I recently painted 

called

NEEDLEWORK NELLIE

This design measures 

18" x 23"

and

 was painted on a masonite board

Step inside my STUDIO and lets get started!

My Palette

DecoArt Americana Acrylics

Antique Gold, Antique Maroon, Antique Teal, Raw Sienna, Camel, Colonial Green, Desert Sand, Deep Burgundy, Burnt Umber, Shading Flesh, Lamp Black, Medium Flesh, Black Green, Sand, Cocoa

Surface Preparation

I used a sponge brush to apply 

DecoArt Acrylic Gesso

to my board

I applied 2 coats of GESSO

When dry, I sanded then wiped dust with a damp paper towel

I base coated my panel with a mix of Camel plus Cocoa

When dry I sanded lightly and removed dust

I then thinned 

some 

Raw Sienna

to a "wash" consistency

I used a sponge brush to quickly apply the wash to my panel

I then scrunched up a rag 

and 

patted it all over the wet surface

The result was a slightly mottled background

I then transferred the pattern

 for the floor 

onto my surface

I dry brushed the floor area

I used a stencil to add the "wallpaper" details

After finishing the wallpaper 

I heavily spattered my surface 

with

Burnt Umber

* Tip for spattering!

Dip the bristle tips of a large stencil brush into water

Circle wet brush in a dime-size puddle 

of Burnt Umber 

to thin the paint to the correct consistency 

for spattering

Hold the brush over the project

 and 

pull some bristles towards you, 

with pressure, using the palette knife

Let dry

The surface is now ready to transfer the main design elements

Base coat the dress Antique Teal

Shading the dress

I have completed

 the 

shading and highlighting 

on the dress

I am now transferring the remaining details of the design

I have now

  base coated

the

 head, neck, arms and hair

I have painted the shoes, socks, necklace

I have begun adding highlights to the hair

I have painted the piece 

of 

needlework 

in 

Nellie's hand

I have also painted the trim 

on the 

neckline and sleeves

 of 

dress

Close up of Nellie so far

Ready to varnish

I used several coats 

of

Americana Dura Clear Ultra Matte Varnish

I will now show you how I 

faux finished 

the frame

I brushed on a coat 

of 

Multi Purpose Sealer

After sanding I used a sponge brush 

to 

"press and lift"

 a coat of Camel on the frame

When dry I repeated with another coat of Camel

I used an awl to punch groupings 

of

 "worm holes" 

on a few areas of the frame

I added some long scratches in the paint

I also added some "ding and dents" to the frame with a hammer

Next I mixed a graining glaze on my palette

This consisted of 7 quarter size puddles 

of 

Traditions Glazing Medium

and

 a quarter size puddle 

of 

Burnt Umber

I used a sponge brush

 to

 "press and lift" 

a bubbly coat 

of

 glaze mixture onto the frame

I then used an overgrainer 

for

 the faux finish

I lightly pulled the bristles through the glaze

 making 

elongated "S" shapes in the glaze

I then painted all 4 frame corners Black Green

        

I used a medium stencil brush

 to

 pounce Black Green 

onto the 

narrow edges of the frame

(inner opening and outer edges)

I used a rasp

to wear off some paint 

along 

some outer edges and corners

I added some water 

to 

Honey Stain

and

 used this mixture to age the frame

I let the frame dry completely

 then finished it

 with

 several coats

 of 

Dura Clear Ultra Matte Varnish

I hung my primitive portrait in the alcove 

at the top of my stairs 

where my sewing machine is

DecoArt provided me with the paints 

to 

complete complete this project

 as part of their 

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs

Thank you DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint

NEEDLEWORK NELLIE

Happy Painting!

Lynn