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 Pilgrims

I found this surface for $5.00 at a recent yard sale.

It measures 24" tall x 19" wide.

I had the perfect design that I wanted to paint on it.

The design

 is by my good friend 

Amy Mogish

and is 

called 

THE PILGRIMS

Lets step inside my STUDIO !

My Palette

Antique Gold, Burnt Orange, Burnt Umber, Cocoa, Country Red, Delane's Dark Flesh, Fiery Red, Flesh Tone, Graphite, Honey Brown, Lamp Black, Light Buttermilk, Milk Chocolate, Neutral Grey, sapphire, Slate, Grey, Soft Black, Tangelo Orange, Tangerine, Titanium White

Let's Paint!

I prepared my surface using a sponge brush to apply 2 coats of Soft Black.

I used a "press and lift " motion with the sponge brush to coat the entire surface.

This will give your surface a slight texture.

Once you have applied 2 coats of paint you can go back with your sponge brush and 

"refine" any areas that may have too much texture.

This would include such areas as the face or any other area with fine details.

Amy Mogish 

originally painted this design on a

Brides Oval Carry All Bentwood Box.

This design lends itself to so many surfaces the possibilities are endless!

You could easily paint each of The Pilgrims as separate portraits......which I had been thinking about!

(Until this surface came along!)

I used a

  Scharff Stain- It Brush 

to dry brush

Burnt Umber 

over the entire surface.

I also like to use the Scharff Moon Brushes for dry brushing as well.

It just depends on the area I am covering which brush I choose.

I enlarged the design to fit my surface.

The pattern is transferred to the surface using a white graphite paper.

I began with the initial base coat using Light Buttermilk.

Because my surface was so large I had to fill in some area's with "extra's.

This is your chance to make your piece "unique" and add some of your own touches!

I paint and shade mostly using Ultra Round Brushes.

Their pointed tip make them perfect for getting in the smallest of spots.

I prefer to apply my color values using a series of washes until I reach the desired depth of color.

I mop between each wash then use my blow dryer to be sure it is dry before adding the next wash.

If you try to add another layer of color when your paint is still wet you are going to lift the paint!

I drew in my own large pumpkin that The Pilgrim is holding.

I base coated the pumpkin using Burnt Orange.

After I had the base coating and shading on the pumpkin done I dry brushed the highlights on.

To fill in the area below the large pumpkin I drew in 2 smaller pumpkins and painted them.

I just used some of the paints that I had on my palette to paint them.

 I plan to hang this piece in my dining room where 

 I have a couple of primitive portraits that I have painted. 

SOOOOOOOOO.......

I decided to change the eyes of The Pilgrims to give them a little more realistic look yet I still wanted to maintain the over all whimsical look of Amy's design.

I began with the woman Pilgrim.

I began by first shading 

aside the nose , under eyes, above lip, center of nose, bottom of chin and center of neck using Delane's Dark Flesh.

I then created  eye sockets using Delane's Dark Flesh

I base coated the eyes with Light Buttermilk.

I painted the iris with Honey Brown.

The pupil is Lamp Black.
I lined the top of the eye with Honey Brown.

I added a tiny highlight to the eye with Light Buttermilk.

I added the eyebrows with a tiny liner brush.

I have now added the "homespun lines to the female Pilgrims collar with Burnt Orange.

I added blush to her cheeks with a "float of Burnt Orange".

I deepened the shading with a touch of Country Red.

I first base coated her hair with Soft Black.

I then added the highlights to her hair with Honey Brown.

I have also added the stitching details to the collar and hat with Soft Black

I have added the initial base coats to the male Pilgrim and also the pie.

After base coating the pie and the additional pumpkins I knew that I would need to add some sort of filler in the area below them.

I dry brushed shading and highlights to define the female Pilgrims arms, under the collar and around the pie.

The pie dish was initially base coated with Sapphire.

I used a Scharff Texture -It brush to highlight the center of the pie plate with Light Buttermilk.

I then added a wash of Sapphire over the pie dish. I used Soft Black to shade both the pie crust and the dish. I added highlights to the crust with Light Buttermilk. I then added a wash over the crust with Honey Brown. I added some crumbs to the top of the pie with Light Buttermilk.

At this point I was wishing I had a fresh baked apple pie in my oven cooking so I could stop for a coffee break!

So now it is time to give the male Pilgrim a face!

But first I decided to add some bittersweet vines along the bottom of the design to fill in that area.

I painted the male Pilgrim's eyes and nose pretty much the same way as the females.

His beard and hair are undercoated with Lamp Black.

I then added the hair, mustache and beard over the Lamp Black using a liner brush and Graphite.

I then started adding some hairs using Neutral Grey and finally some using Slate Grey.

I painted his hair in the same manner.

I highlighted the hat and cape with some Neutral Grey then further highlighted it with Slate Grey.

I added the buckle on his hat with Bright Brass, and shaded it with Soft Black.

An Amy Mogish design would not be complete unless you added some bakers twine.

AND now it's thyme to paint a duck!

Close up of The Pilgrims and The Duck!

I changed the location of the sheep in the design and of course added more bakers twine and a crow.

It looks like we now need to paint a chicken!

This is such a fun design!

Close up view of pumpkins and bittersweet.

I have painted the chicken.

Close up view with chicken and duck.

Close up view with the sheep.

Close up view of pumpkins and bittersweet.

I varnished my piece with several coats of DecoArt Soft Touch Varnish

I made a grungy tag for my project.

You can find my Stain Mixture Recipe for tags, fabric etc.

HERE

And of course I had to add some BAKERS TWINE!

I wrapped the twine around the handle and added the tag.

THE PILGRIMS

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 that you have enjoyed watching me paint

THE PILGRIMS

HAPPY PAINTING!

LYNN