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Life is Beautiful Plaque

Place this plaque whenever you need a reminder that "Life is Beautiful."

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At a Glance:

#6599 Skill Level: Advanced Time:
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This project features these great brands:

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supplies

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Real Brown, 2 oz. - 231

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Seashell Pink, 2 oz. - 2485

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Pink Balloon, 2 oz. - 2545

Number Needed: 1 $1.69 $1.30
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Sky Mist, 2 oz. - 2596

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Wax - Clear, 8 oz. - 34170

Number Needed: 1 $9.99
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Brushes - Chalk & Wax Brush set - 34909

Number Needed: 1 $15.99
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt Home Decor Chalk - Cottage White, 8 oz. - 34929

Number Needed: 1 $9.99
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt Home Decor Chalk - Glacier, 8 oz. - 34162

Number Needed: 1 $9.99
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Ivory White, 2 oz. - 427

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Berry Wine, 2 oz. - 434

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Parchment, 2 oz. - 450

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Italian Sage, 2 oz. - 467

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Mushroom, 2 oz. - 472

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Rose Pink, 2 oz. - 632

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Basil Green, 2 oz. - 645

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.

FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Barn Wood, 2 oz. - 936

Number Needed: 1 $1.69
Item not for sale on Plaid Online.
instructions

Other Supplies

ArtMinds French Provincial Pine Sign 12 x 20 found at Michael’s, Strathmore Paper Coated Palette or palette of your choice, Paintbrushes: #6 Filbert; #4 Filbert; #4 Shader; #2 Round, 150/250 grit Sandpaper, Gray graphite paper or 2B Pencil, Sanford Design kneaded eraser, Soft lint-free cotton rag

Instructions

Preparation

  1. Make sure that the surface is clean of dust and dirt.
  2. Apply one coat of FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Glacier using the FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Small Paint Brush. Let completely dry for two hours.
  3. Paint one coat of Cottage White over the Glacier and let dry for two hours.      
  4. Once the second coat is dry, distress the surface by sanding using rough sandpaper in a circular motion which will reveal the undercoat of Glacier. NOTE: This will give the surface an aged look. Wipe clean with a soft rag.
  5. Trace and transfer the pattern onto the prepared surface using graphite paper or color the back of your traced pattern with a 2B pencil then turn the pattern over and transfer by retracing the pattern lines. After transferring the pattern, use a kneaded eraser to lift as much of the graphite as possible so that the transferred design is very light.

Technique Tips from Debi

  • I approach my painting as if it were a watercolor; always using a damp brush before I load paint. This technique allows me to start with one color and create lighter values of that same color by adding water to my brush. I always lightly load my brush with paint, never heavy, and I always blot my brush lightly on a paper towel to make sure that I do not have too much paint loaded at one time. I also prefer to work as much as possible when the paint is wet or damp. If I ever need an area to be wet that is currently dry, I just dampen my brush and lightly paint over the dry area with my dampened brush. However, when adding final highlights, contrary to most of my painting techniques, I like my paint to be mostly dry.
  • I find that I can create a soft romantic effect by adding multiple layers of color while blending with water. When painting the final steps of adding detail, I prefer that my painting is somewhat dry if not completely dry. One paint aspect I have found is that it is very forgiving. So don’t ever feel that you have made a mistake, it can always be corrected!

Stage 1

  • Roses: Wet a No. 6 filbert brush with water, then lightly load the brush with Barn Wood to paint the areas of roses where the shadows are to be and add some tone to the leaves and stems.
    • NOTE: This is a very light undercoat. Next using a No.4 filbert loaded with Rose Pink and Pink Balloon (1+1) begin to paint the center of the roses.
  • Leaves: Load No. 4 filbert with Barn Wood and paint the shadow areas.
  • Wildflowers: Load No. 4 filbert with Barn Wood and paint the wildflowers.
    • NOTE: Barn Wood will add a bit more dimension later when Sky Mist, which is so light, is added to the wildflowers.
  • Decorative Border: Load a No. 2 round brush with Mushroom and paint the border.

Stage 2

  • Roses: Load No.4 filbert with Seashell Pink and Rose Pink; paint the outer petals starting from the closest to the rose body and outward. Blend with water if necessary.
  • Leaves: Load the No. 4 filbert with Italian Sage and paint shadow areas on the leaves leaving it darker on one side then blend it out with water. For all small leaves, load the No. 2 round brush with Italian Sage then paint the leaves.
  • Wildflowers: Load the No. 4 filbert with Sky Mist to paint the wildflowers. Start at the center and paint outward towards the edge of the petals.

Stage 3

  • Roses:Load the No. 4 filbert with Ivory White, Pink Balloon and Parchment (4 +1+1 mixture). Paint the body of the rose following petal lines. Paint edges of petals as well. NOTE: This step adds highlights to the rose. To add drama to the rose, load the No. 2 round brush with Berry Wine, then paint the very center to create shadows.
  • Leaves: Load the No. 4 shader with Basil Green and Ivory White (1+1) to paint the lighter portion of the leaves. Load the same brush with Italian Sage and Ivory White (2+1) and paint the slightly darker area of the leaves again. Using the No. 4 shader loaded with Basil Green and Mushroom (1+1) paint a deeper shadow of the leaves where they meet the stem and on darkest shadow areas. Blend with water.
  • Wildflowers: Load No. 4 shader with Sky Mist and Ivory White (1+2) to add highlights to the wildflower petals.

Stage 4

  • Roses: Load the No. 4 filbert with Rose Pink and Barn Wood then paint a shadow once again where the petals meet the rose and the lower body of the rose. NOTE: This is where you are adding dimension and form. Load the No. 2 round with Seashell Pink and Ivory White, paint and define the petals in the center of the rose. Load the same No. 2 round once again with Ivory White and add highlights to the petals that you just painted to bring them out. Still using the No. 2 Round brush, loaded with Ivory White, add highlights to the larger rose petals. Load the No. 4 shader with Ivory White and add highlights to the upper portion of the body of the rose as well as the edges of the rose petals.
  • Leaves: Load a No. 2 round brush with Real Brown, then add a center leaf vein blending with water. Add shadow as well if you feel it necessary. For decorative small leaves load a No. 2 round with Basil Green and Ivory White (1+2) add touches of highlights to the leaves. Load a No. 4 shader with Basil Green and Ivory White to add highlights to larger leaves.

Stage 5

  • Wildflowers: Load the No. 2 round with Italian Sage, then paint the wildflower centers. Load the same brush with Ivory White and make a dot in the center of each wildflower.
  • Lettering: Load a No. 2 round with Barn Wood and water (2+1) and paint the lettering “Life is Beautiful.”
  • Border: Load the No. 4 shader with Barn Wood and lightly paint the routed edge.
  • Edge: Embellish with a little extra color along 1/2” edge of the wood plaque, dip the FolkArt Home Decor Chalk paint brush into Glacier lightly. Blot excess paint on a paper towel then precede to dry brush the edge. NOTE: This will add an aged look.

Notes from Debi:

Now is the time to step back from the painting and assess it. Is a punch of color needed, more highlights, or extra details? It is up to you to take it from here, after all, this is your painting!

 

Finishing

Once your piece is completely dry, lightly sand using a circular motion to smooth the surface and prepare it for waxing. Wipe to remove any sanding dust. Using the FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Small Wax Brush, dip the bristles into FolkArt Home Decor Clear Wax and with a circular motion, work wax into the surface. Let dry overnight, then buff to desired sheen using a soft lint-free cotton rag.

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Disclaimer: The information found in each project is presented in good faith, but no warranty is given, nor results guaranteed, nor is freedom from any patent to be inferred. Since we have no control over physical conditions surrounding the application of information herein contained, Plaid Enterprises, Inc. disclaims any liability for untoward results.

Important: Please be sure to thoroughly read the instructions for all products, paying particular attention to all cautions and warnings shown to ensure the proper and safe use of the product.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved. No part of this Project may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing, except for your personal use, except by reviewer, who may in reviewing this project, quote brief passages in a magazine or newspaper.

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