Color on the Wing

 

Instructions
 
Painting Instructions
1. Basecoat pots inside and out, including the drain hole, with Larkspur Blue. Let dry.

2. Dip sea sponge into Larkspur Blue and Cloud White; dab onto surface of pots to make clouds. Use 2" flat brush to paint Chive Green around base of pots. Use rake brush dipped in 1:1 mixture of Cloud White and Chive Green to make vertical strokes over Chive Green on bases to resemble grass.

3. Using #6 flat brush, basecoat all hearts with Carnation Pink, and ovals and squares with Hydrangea Blue, circles with 1:1 mixture of Cloud White and Petunia Purple, teardrops with Chive Green and pickets with Cloud White. Let dry.

4. Apply swirls to large hearts and stripes to medium hearts using 10/0 brush dipped in Buttercup Yellow. Dip handle end of brush into Buttercup Yellow and apply dots to small hearts. Let dry.

5. Apply Cloud White dots to center of circles with handle end of brush. Double load* #6 flat brush with Cloud White and Clear Coat. Highlight circles on one half and teardrops on one half. Use 10/0 brush to add shadow of Petunia Purple to right side of flower centers.

6. Glue pickets approximately 1-1/2" apart around base of 6" pot.

7. Using 10/0 brush, paint flower stems onto pots with Chive Green. Use same brush loaded with Chive Green and Cloud White to paint veins on teardrop leaves.

Finishing Instructions
1. Glue flowers to top of stems. Glue leaves to pots along stems.

2. To assemble butterflies, break small squares in half and glue to pots as shown for small butterflies. Break points off hearts, or cut with scissors, and glue small hearts to squares. Repeat with medium ovals and hearts, and large ovals and hearts.

3. Double load #6 flat with Cloud White and Clear Coat and apply to top edges of wings to highlight.

4. Cut wire with scissors into 3 each pieces of 1.5", 2.5" and 4". Bend each piece in half and curl ends. Apply with hot glue, according to size, under edge of each butterfly body.

Techniques
*Double Load: Dip a flat brush in clear water and lightly press on a paper towel only until the sheen leaves the bristles. Load two different colors of paint onto the brush, one color on each corner. Stroke the brush back and forth on the palette, blending the paint until the color gradually blends in the middle.