Thyme to show you a Fat Pilgrim

Thanksgiving 

is tomorrow!

I couldn't wait to paint

 Lynne Andrew's 

new Fat Pilgrim design.

I apologize for getting so behind in my blogging!

Let's step inside the

  STUDIO

I had several of these very 

large gourds 

in my stash just waiting for the right design to paint on it.

I knew it was the perfect surface to adapt Lynne's FAT Pilgrim design to.

I used my 

Prism Autograph Projector 

to size the line drawing to fit the gourd.

I had to adjust some of the elements of the design to "make it work".

My Palette

Antique Gold, Antique White, Burnt Orange, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Buttermilk, Country Red, Graphite, Lamp Black, Marigold, Milk Chocolate, Slate Grey, Titanium Snow White,   Warm Beige
Dazzling Metallics Glorious Gold

Lets Paint

I began by washing the entire gourd with 2 coats of Buttermilk.

Next I washed the face with Warm Beige.

I washed the hair, beard and mustache with Slate Grey.

I then added the facial features.

I use Lynne Andrews new floaters and stipplers

I use Jack Richeson Dome Sash Brushes for mopping.

To refresh your memory this is what the gourd looked like prior to painting the facial details.

After I had painted the facial features and had the beard base coated 

I realized I needed some type of "brim" for the hat to make my gourd look more like a Pilgrim.

I decided to use QuickWood to make the hat brim.

Quick Wood

is a 2 part resin and once kneaded together you have about 20 minutes of open time before it begins to cure. 

It fully cures in 24 hours.

With that being said I needed all 20 minutes to get the brim made and attached!

 I first flattened out the piece of QuickWood I had cut.

I used a water glass to cut a small circle which was about 6" wide. 

I then used a smaller glass to cut out an inner circle.

This is where it got REAL TRICKY!

I put the "brim" over the top of the gourd.

Because the QUICKWOOD was still in the pliable state it started to STRETCH!

I could have used and extra pair of hands at this point!

I ended  cutting about a 1" piece of QuickWood. 

I formed several pea size balls.

I used the pea size balls to support under the brim while I was smoothing and attaching the brim from above.

By this point the QuickWood was really starting to set so I REALLY had to work fast!

I finally managed to get it on and remove the tiny balls under the rim that I had used for support.

Here is my PILGRIM with his hat which I painted Lamp Black.

I then transferred the remaining details to the gourd with graphite.

The Pilgrims coat was washed with Burnt Umber.

I painted right over the arms, turkey and banner.

I used a #14 floater to do the first wash of Burnt Umber.

I then used my 1" domed sash brush to lightly stipple the wash as I went along.

This technique is used to blend and soften your wash.

It is important to dry completely between each wash so that you do not lift the paint.

Do as many washes as needed to achieve the depth of color you want.

The more soft layers of washes you apply, the more blended and softer the coat will look.

The Pilgrims collar is washed White.

I shaded between the collar top and beard with a mix of Burnt Umber and Graphite  ( 1:1)

I completed the beard by using the tip of a #2 floater loaded with White.

I pulled the hairs out around face, mustache and beard.

I then switched to a #4 floater for some thicker strands.

Completed beard.

I painted a heavy Buttermilk wash on the turkey, cuffs, hands and banner .

The turkey is a wash of Milk Chocolate.

Shading around the wing and top of head is Burnt Sienna.

Snood ( fleshy stuff under beak) is Country Red.

Beak is Marigold.

I then wet the areas of the turkey where you see the spots.

I then picked up some Burnt Umber on the tip of a #4 floater.

I dotted the paint on the WET areas.

You will start to see the paint bleed out.

You can use your finger or a mop to smudge the spots.

The legs are painted with Marigold.

When dry add Burnt Orange stripes.

The banner is washed with Antique White.

I then transferred the scripture verse.

Lettering is done with a

 Roaring Tikky Graphic Pen 0.1

Be sure to spray your lettering with Krylon Fixative so your lettering does not smudge when you varnish.

Close up of finished Pilgrim face.

Finished Fat Pilgrim

He looks wonderful displayed in an old wood bowl with some bittersweet added.

The scripture verse reads 

" I will praise God's name in song and glorify him  with Thanksgiving "

I also painted the surface that Lynne Andrews designed for the 

Fat Pilgrim project.

This surface measures 12 1/4" x 7"

This surface was painted in the same way that I painted the gourd,

 with the exception that his britches and shoes were added.

Close up of face.

Here you can see the Pilgrims britches and shoes.

I applied several coats of Dura Gloss Soft Touch Varnish to each piece when completed.

I attached my Fat Pilgrim to a grapevine wreath.

Completed Fat Pilgrim Wreath.

Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt 

provided me with the paints to complete these projects.

Thank you DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint this
FAT Pilgrim
project two different ways!

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Lynn

Thyme to show you The ARTIST

I have gotten so behind with my blogging!

The truth is it has been one long spring / early summer 

as I have been sick with pneumonia for nearly 8 weeks.

The good news is after 3 separate courses of antibiotics I am finally starting to feel better.

Let's step inside my STUDIO to see what I have been painting.

Today I wanted to show you a project called 

The Artist

Design by Lynne Andrews

My surface is a wood cut out measuring 23" high x 9 wide

LET'S PAINT!

My Palette

Buttermilk, Flesh Tone, Black, Burnt Umber, Country Red, White, Colonial Green, Bittersweet Chocolate, Burnt Sienna, Hauser Medium Green, Raw Sienna, Plantation Pine, Antique Gold Deep, Mustard Seed, Golden Straw, Antique Gold 

Dazzling Metallics

Shimmering Silver

I prepared my surface by lightly sanding it.

I then sealed the surface

 with 

DecoArt Multi Purpose Sealer

After the sealer was dry I then base coated the surface and edges with Buttermilk.

I then transferred the pattern on to the base coated surface.

I began by painting the face and beret.

I used Lynn Andrews new floater series brushes and stipplers.

The large brush you see in the picture is a Jack Richeson Domed Sash Brush.

I added a White wash over the Buttermilk already on the beard and mustache.

I used my domed sash brush to mop and blend.

When dry I floated around the outside of the mustache with Burnt Umber.

The painting that the ARTIST is holding starts with a Buttermilk background.

The easel is Burnt Umber highlighted with Buttermilk.

I did a wash of Colonial Green in the upper left corner, 

mopping downward as I went along to extend the color.

The centers of the sunflowers are Burnt Umber.

 I mopped them heavily so they would appear muted.

Next I added a wash of Plantation Pine leaves and stems to the ARTISTS painting.

I did this lightly just to imply they are there.

The petals on the sunflowers are Antique Gold with a touch of Mustard Seed.

The diamonds are a wash of Soft Black.

The coat is washed with Burnt Sienna.

I worked one section at a time on the coat rather than trying to paint the whole coat at once.

I mopped heavily with each wash.

I dried after each wash.

The shading on the coat is done with Bittersweet Chocolate.

Highlighted areas of the coat are done with the #8 scumbler and Buttermilk.

The fur on the coat is first base coated with Buttermilk.

If you notice the collar I used the #8 scumbler to stipple the edges of the fur to give it a 

"fuzzy" look.

The fur is then washed with Raw Sienna where shading would occur.

I added a little Golden Straw randomly on the fur.

I added some White highlights to brighten areas.

The fur on the collar, cuffs and bottom of coat are done in the same manner.

Once I had completed all the fur areas I used the tip of a #4 floater to add individual lines of Buttermilk to make the fur edges even more fuzzy.

I have also painted the mittens.

I have also started painting all the crows Lamp Black.

I added White feathers to the wings.

The eyes and beaks are Mustard Seed. 

The feet and other fine details are drawn in with a Rotring Pen.

I have now started painting the brushes in the ARTIST'S hand.

There are at least 15 paint brushes to paint on this surface along with many other small details!

Working on the paint brushes in the ARTIST'S hands.

6 brushes painted so far!

I have started painting the basket and its contents.

I have painted the centers of the sunflowers and stems.

I am working on the black check cloth.

I am working on the sunflowers in the basket.

Close up view of basket.

I created the texture on the basket by using a graining tool.

I am now adding some shading detail to basket and sunflowers.

The wagon bottom is painted Colonial Green. 

When dry I added alternating checks with Lamp Black.

The oval is painted Buttermilk.

Shading around the oval is done with Burnt Sienna.

Shading on the coat around the pockets and next to fur is done with Bittersweet Chocolate.

Close up of basket so far.

I have added the wheels to the wagon.

I later decided they were a bit small and enlarged them.

I am continuing to paint the brushes, rag, tubes of paint in the wagon.

I have transferred the lines for the paint rag in the wagon.

I used Colonial Green for the paint rag.

The rag is shaded lightly with Lamp Black.

I transferred the lettering to the oval shape.

I will use the Rotring Pen to write the word create.

I am painting the bottles of paint and roll of paper towels.

I am now painting the brushes in the basket.

So much detail!

Close up of basket.

I still have more paint brushes to add!

I have finished painting the remaining brushes.

After looking at this picture I decided that the wheels on the wagon 

looked a bit small so I will fix that!

I enlarged the wheels on the wagon a little.

I like them better!

Love him!

I applied several coats of 

Dura Clear Soft Touch Varnish

once my project was completed.

I have attached the base to the ARTIST

I took pliers and cut the handles on several old paint brushes to make them shorter.

I took an empty plastic paint storage cup and poured some Mustard Seed into it.

I tilted the base of the plastic cup 

so the paint was spilling out of it and down the front of the wood base of the Santa. 

I attached the cup with glue that I had spread on the base.

When the paint reached the bottom of the base I put my blow dryer on a low setting 

and 

dried the paint to keep it from spreading.

I glued another plastic paint storage cup to the right side of the base.

I added the paint brushes to the cup.

I had dipped some of the brushes in various colors of paint 

and

 allowed them to dry completely first.

I squirted a small puddle of Country Red paint in front of the paint cup 

and 

let it spill over the side.

I stopped the drip same as before with my blow dryer.

Back view of the ARTIST

The ARTIST

Completed project

Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt 

provided me with the paints 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 the ARTIST!

Happy Painting!

Lynn