Sunflower Painted Tote Bag

Other Supplies

• FolkArt Multi-Surface #2905, Cinnamon
• Flat Brushes Nos. 4; 8; 12; 14; 16 in excellent condition (if your surface is rough use bristle brushes)
• No. 1 Liner Brush
• 1" Wash Brush (for applying the background)
• An old beat-up brush or a very small stencil brush
• Canvas tote bag or stretched canvas (choice of size)—remember the pattern may be sized to fit your project surface
• Tracing paper
• Masterson Sta-Wet palette
• Sta-Wet paper
• Palette knife
• Paper towels or 100% cotton rags
• Brush basin (or container for water)
• White Saral paper (or white chalk)
• Stylus (or dead ballpoint pen)
• Fine grit sandpaper 

Instructions

SURFACE PREPARATION

1. Sand the surface lightly.
2. Apply Bark Brown or, if desired, a darker brown mixture of Bark Brown plus Burnt Umber can be used.
   • NOTE: Brush the paint from the center towards the edge of the surface and just beyond the size of the sunflower pattern.
   • TIP: If your canvas tote bag is openly porous like mine, use a touch of Blending Gel with the paint to help it flow.
   • NOTE: If desired, the entire surface can be painted opaquely. Allow to dry.
3. Trace the sunflower pattern onto a sheet of tracing paper.
4. Neatly transfer the sunflower pattern onto the prepared tote bag using White Saral or white chalk and a stylus or dead ballpoint pen.

PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS

Leaves:

• NOTE: Paint the leaves and the stem first as they are partly underneath the sunflower.

1. Undercoat the leaves using your large flat brush with Thicket. Let dry. Apply a second coat if needed.
2. Double load the large flat brush with Blending Gel and a mixture of Burnt Umber plus Ink Spot 3:1. Paint the shadows at the base of the leaves. Let dry.
3. Apply a small amount of Blending Gel to the leaf. Double load the brush with Thicket and a little Burnt Umber plus Ink Spot. Stroke on the dark side of the leaf.
4. Highlight the leaf edges with Vintage White plus Lime Green as shown in the photograph. Wipe the brush and lightly blend.

Stems:

1. Undercoat the stem using your large flat brush with Thicket.
2. Shade the left side of the stem with a mixture of Burnt Umber and Ink Spot.
3. Highlight the right side of the stem with the Vintage White plus Lime Green mixture. NOTE: If needed, use a small amount of Blending Gel to help move the paint over the canvas tote.

Sunflower:

• NOTE: Begin by painting the sunflower petals before painting the flower center. Vary the colors in the petals. Petals that are to the back should be a little darker and those to the front should be a little lighter.

Dark Value Petal:

1. Undercoat dark value petals with Yellow Ochre; allow to dry. If desired, apply a second coat.
2. Apply Yellow Ochre at the top of the petal; next add Daffodil Yellow to the middle of the petal and shade at the petal base with Cinnamon, Burnt Umber and a little Pure Orange. As you shade the petal, wipe your brush and blend working the dark colors into the light and the light values into the dark.

Medium Value Petal:

1. Undercoat the medium value petals Daffodil Yellow; allow to dry. If desired, apply a                           second coat.
2. Apply Daffodil Yellow at the top of the petal; next add Lemon Custard to the middle of the petal and shade at the petal base with a mixture of Cinnamon plus Burnt Umber.
3. Highlight a few petal tips with Vintage White.
4. As accents, shade a few of the petals at the base with "touches" of Engine Red and Pure Orange.

Light Value Petal:

1. Undercoat the light value petals Lemon Custard; allow to dry. If desired, apply a second coat.
2. Apply Vintage White at the top of the petal; next add Lemon Custard to the middle of the petal and shade at the petal base with a mixture of Cinnamon plus a touch of Burnt Umber.

• TIPS: Remember, you can always apply a little Blending Gel before applying the colors to the undercoated petals, Blending Gel is wonderful and will keep your paint moving, however, JUST DON'T USE TOO MUCH. Vary the petals. Study the photograph for color placement, play with it, have fun with your wonderful color. It's so exciting.

Sunflower Center:

1. Undercoat the sunflower center with a mixture of Cinnamon plus a touch of Bark Brown.
2. Using an old beat-up brush or a small stencil brush, dab around the edges of the flower center with a mixture of Burnt Umber plus a touch of Pure Black.
3. Paint random dots of Daffodil Yellow, Lemon Custard, Pure Orange, Lime Green, Engine Red, Burnt Umber and Pure Black.

Sunflower Center within the Center:

1. Within the flower center, dab a Lime Green donut.
2. Highlight the Lime Green donut with Vintage White and Lemon Custard.
3. Shade with Ink Spot. Refer to photo.

FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Allow painted areas to dry thoroughly overnight. To seal and protect your artwork, heat-set your canvas tote bag.
2. There are two methods to heat-set your tote bag:
   • Place painted item in a clothes dryer for 30 minutes on the highest setting allowed for the fabric type used.
   • Position tote bag, painted design up on ironing board, cover with dry pressing cloth. Set iron to highest temperature allowed for tote bag fabric. Use dry heat, (no steam) and press over painted design for 30 seconds, lift and reposition iron, press painted area for 30 seconds. Continue heat setting design area until all painted areas have been heat set.
3. Washing instructions: hand wash and line dry or launder in washing machine with mild soap.