The Nutty Toymaker is back......it's about thyme!

The Nutty Toymaker was a Zim's piece that I painted several years ago. 

I often displayed many of my original pieces that I painted over the years in my STUDIO year around. I would then use them in seasonal displays throughout my home.

Everything I had in my STUDIO was destroyed by a FIRE in our home in 2013

I found my Nutcracker among the charred sooty remains of my STUDIO after the fire.

In order to even try to keep something after the FIRE it would have to go thru a process called "chem sponging" by the Fire Restoration Company.

Chem sponging is a costly process but necessary as it removes the toxins left by the fire and also removes the smell of smoke.

I decided to try to salvage my nutcracker as I knew that Zim's pieces were no longer available.

I have had my Nutcracker stored away for a few years because quite honestly he brought back some painful memories of a time when our entire house looked like him, sooty, burned, charred and destroyed. Much of the varnish had bubbled , he had burn marks on him from the intensity of the heat. His hair and beard had melted so I had to remove them.

I decided that this was the year that my Nutcracker was once again going to be a part of my Christmas MAGIC

Step inside the STUDIO and you can watch him come back to life again!

My Palette

DecoArt Americana Acrylics

Lamp Black, Dusty Rose, Shading Flesh, Victorian Blue, Burnt Umber, Rookwood Red, Graphite, Honey Brown , Country Red, Uniform Blue, Williamsburg Blue, Deep Midnight Blue, Hauser Dark Green, Hauser Light Green, Antique White, Titanium White, 

Metallic Lustre

and

Dazzling Metallics

Silver Spark, White Frost, Splendid Gold

I began the process by taking small sanding sticks to sand the entire surface which was all bubbled. If you look closely at the picture you can see the bubbled surface on his jacket by his neck. This was an extremely tedious process given all the tiny details on the project. I then cleaned all the surface pieces using a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol.

I then base coated the main areas all over again. I decided to give my Nutcracker a "new look" I changed some of the colors but the biggest change of all was to his face. 

I decided to change his eyes.

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see the "MAGIC" happening as my Nutcracker came back to life!

I also decided to make some changes to the "toys"

The toys as I was painting them again

I made some changes to the tiny toy train also

The train after the fire.....even the tiny tree on the right melted

Working on the train and tiny toys!

I changed some of the colors on the train cars and added some Splendid Gold details

I even added a tiny tree to one of the cars!

The finished train!

I changed the color of the base of my piece. 

I did the "stroke work" on the base with a  stencil! 

I dry brushed it on 

with 

DecoArt Metallic Lustre Silver Spark.

Working on the toymaker sign

The toymaker sign is hung back on

Toys completed. 

I re- drilled the holes in the tray so I could glue the toys back in.

Side view. Working on the base and train.

I applied several good coats of 

DecoArt spray matte sealer 

to my finished project

I have added the Nutcrackers new hair!

He now has a beard again!

Are you ready to see the MAGIC????

The Nutty Toymaker is back!!!

DecoArt provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of their 

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs.

Thank you Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my Nutty Toymaker come back to life again

I am glad to have him once again be apart 

of the 

MAGIC of Christmas!

If you would like to see pictures of the FIRST time I painted the Nutty Toymaker click 

HERE

Happy Painting!

Lynn

Thyme to show you a Citrus Snickle

Today

I wanted to show you

how to make

a

CITRUS SNICKLE

The design for this project is by Cynthia Erekson

Let's head inside the STUDIO and get started!

My Palette

DecoArt Americana Acrylics

Medium Flesh, Light Buttermilk, Payne's Grey, Antique Gold Deep, Spiced Pumpkin, Burnt Orange, Traditional Burnt Umber, Gingerbread, Navy Blue, Burnt Sienna, Brandywine, Milk Chocolate, Mustard Seed, Antique White, Camel, Uniform Blue, Antique Green, Autumn Red, Plantation Pine, Buttermilk, Lamp Black

LET'S PAINT

I used an 18" square unprimed heavy floor cloth canvas for this project

I used a 2" foam brush to apply  GESSO

I let the first coat of GESSO dry well then I applied a second coat .

Let dry completely!

I used a sponge brush to base coat over the GESSO with Navy Blue

Let the first coat of Navy Blue dry then apply a second coat.

Trace your pattern and transfer the outer line defining Santa's shape. 

Add details as needed.

I began by painting the face then adding the eyes.

Base coat the beard.

I am now base coating the stocking and mittens.

I have painted the arms and dry brushed the highlighted areas.

Adding detail to the stocking.

I have now added detail to the hat and cuffs.

I have base coated the oranges and started to shade between them to separate them.

I often dry brush highlights in for a softer look

Traditions Dome Blenders 

are perfect for this!

I have started painting the lemon garland.

I am painting the leaves and nutmeg on the garland.

I have painted the additional detail on the lemons.

I like to use Silver Brush Ltd. Ultra mini's for detail work.

I have also started adding the beard hairs and facial detail.

When painting a beard be patient! 

Layer your values so there is some contrast.

I began by undercoating the beard with Antique White. I then added Camel hairs sparsely to determine direction of hair growth. This also adds contrast. I then began adding Buttermilk hairs followed by Light Buttermilk hairs. I left some background and Camel hairs showing for contrast.

I have added the cloves to the oranges and started to paint the leaves and berries.

I obtain the subtle shading on the mittens, arms, stocking and cheeks by dry brushing with my

 Traditions Dome Blenders

The brushes are very soft and make it very easy to almost "dust on" color where you need it for highlights.

Thyme to SPATTER!

I covered Santa's face when I spattered.

*** To easily spatter pour out about a dime size puddle of paint on your palette. Dip a large stencil brush in water, blot it on your paper towel lightly. Then circle your brush in the paint on your palette. Use your palette knife to gently pull thru the bristles of your brush. ***

The end result should be a nice fine spatter!

Now to glue the Santa together.

I use Arlene's Thick Designer Tacky Glue ( in the jar)

I spread the glue evenly in the space to the left of my design. The glue should meet but not go over the glue line.

I then roll the canvas into a cone shape overlapping the right side of the canvas so the cut shape just meets the glue line. This step is important so that your wooden base will fit the bottom of the cone!

Lay the cone down with the glued area on the bottom. Press the canvas together securely by rubbing inside the cone along the glued line. You can secure the cone with clamps or elastics till your glue sets.

Once your glue has set stuff the interior of the cone well to give it a heftiness. Leave a 1/2" space at the bottom of the cone for the wood base. Spread a thin layer of glue onto the inner 1/2" space of canvas. Press on the outside of the cone to securely adhere the base to the canvas.

To hide the unfinished top of cone I attached 2 rusty stars. You can clamp them together until the glue sets.

I applied 2 light coats of 

Dura Clear Ultra Matte Varnish 

to my Santa.

The varnishes come in many finishes so the choice is yours for the look you want.

Let the varnish dry completely between coats to avoid clouding!

Here is my finished 

CITRUS SANTA

DecoArt 

provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of their 

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs

Thank you DecoArt for all the wonderful products to create with!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint

a

 Citrus Santa!

Happy Painting!

Lynn