Thyme for Snowflake St. Nick

Today

 I wanted to show you my latest project 

called

Snowflake St. Nick

This is a 30" tall Santa Dummy Board

Design 

by

Cynthia Erekson

"Dummy Boards" 

were first brought to this country during colonial times. 

They were cut from flat boards,

 these whimsical figures were painted to resemble men, women or children 

and 

sometimes plants or animals. 

They were free standing 

and

 were often placed near a fireplace with their backs to the wall

 and

 served to "provide a presence" in an empty room.

Lets step inside my STUDIO to see what I have been painting!

My Palette

DecoArt Americana Acrylics

Lamp Black, Deep Burgundy, Shading Flesh, True Ochre, Charcoal Grey, Leaf Green, Hauser Dark Green, Dusty Rose, Titanium White, Neutral Grey, Dove Grey, Tomato Red

Lets paint!!!

My surface is cut from 3/4" pine.

It measures 3/4" x 11 " x 30"

I began by lightly sanding the surface and removing the dust.

I used equal amounts of sealer and paint.

(1) Multipurpose Sealer : (1) Lamp Black

I base coated the surface with 2 coats 

of 

Lamp Black plus Multi Purpose Sealer.

I used a large flat American Decor Brush to base coat.

I transferred the main elements of the design to my surface with graphite paper.

The hat and bag are painted with Deep Burgundy.

I applied one coat and let it dry.

The second coat is done by working from the center of each area out to the edges.

This allows for some areas to appear darker.

I added additional shading with Lamp Black.

I highlighted the top and right side

of the hat and "bulges" in the bag 

with 

Deep Burgundy and a touch of Shading Flesh.

The hat brim, mitten and boot are painted with True Ochre leaving a mottled surface.

I highlighted these areas by first loading a stencil brush with True Ochre.

I circled the brush on my palette to evenly distribute the paint in the bristles.

Next I picked up some

  Dazzling Metallics White Pearl 

on the same brush.

I circled the brush on my palette to slightly blend the two colors.

I then pounced the brush lightly through

 the 

center of the hat brim, along the thumb and center of mitten.

I shaded the hat brim area where it meets the face with Charcoal Grey.

The boots were shaded with Lamp Black.

I spattered the hat brim, mitten and boot heavily with Charcoal Grey.

I let spatters dry completely before proceeding!

I created the arm and coat front by highlighting 

with 

Dazzling Metallics Shimmering Silver.

I transferred the lines for the wide vertical bands of color on the plaid.

I am working on the vertical bands of color on the bottom of the coat.

I used Leaf Green and Tomato Red.

The face is base coated with several coats of Dusty Rose.

I shaded the eye sockets and along the nose

 with a mix 

of

 Dusty Rose and Shading Flesh.

I have base coated the eye area with Titanium White.

I base coated the beard with an under coat of Neutral Grey.

When dry I took a fully loaded stencil brush loaded 

with 

Dove Grey 

and 

pounced the beard area.

I then used my brush loaded with Dove Grey to define the mustache.

I used a small stencil brush loaded

 with 

Dove Grey

to add snowflakes of different sizes 

to

 the bag.

After I had completed all the snowflakes

 I added Dazzling Metallics White Pearl to my brush 

and 

went over the snowflakes to add subtle shine.

Make sure you re-align your stencil carefully to do this!

 I stenciled on the large snowflake on the coat 

with 

Dazzling Metallics White Pearl.

I left my stencil in place

 and 

went over the snowflake lightly

 using 

Silver Bling Glamour Dust Paint.

I am now working on the eyes.

I am now working on the beard.

I use Silver Micron Mini Detail brushes for all fine line work and details.

Close up of face and beard.

I am now painting the holly leaves.

I am now adding the dots using a stylus and end of a large brush handle.

I am also finishing the line work to complete the plaid pattern.

Santa is now ready to have his coat "spattered".

Before spattering I covered Santa's face 

with a 

paper towel.

To spatter 

I dipped just the tips of  a medium stencil brush

in 

water.

I then circled the brush 

in a

  dime size puddle 

of 

Titanium White.

I then hold my brush over my surface to be spattered 

and 

flick some bristles 

by pulling towards me with my palette knife.

Turn your brush occasionally to access fresh paint.

Let spatters dry well!

I applied several coats 

of

Dura Clear Ultra Matte Varnish 

to my finished Santa

Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt

provided me with the paints 

and 

products to complete this project 

as part of their 

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs.

Thank you DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint

Snowflake Santa

Happy Painting!

Lynn