Quick & Easy Painting FREE Online Project

Painter’s Helper!

Prep

Note: Refer to all manufacturers’ label instructions for proper product usage.

1. Hand-wash the apron in cold water to remove any sizing. Let dry. Fold the bottom of the apron up 5-1/2". Fold down top flap of pocket 1-1/2" and crease with iron. Leave pocket unstitched until painting is completed.
   
2. Trace the patterns and transfer the main pattern lines. Transfer details as needed.

Paint

Apron

Note: All painting on the apron is done with a mixture of Fabric Painting Medium + the color listed (1:1).

Use the #0 liner for all linework and fine details; the #8 filbert for rounded shapes; the #8 shader for block and rectangle shapes; the #2 and #4 rounds for basing smaller detailed shapes; and use the 3/8" angular for all shading. Continue pattern below pocket line to keep brushes from “falling out.”

1. Line up painter’s tape vertically on the right side of the center of apron. Press down to adhere well (this will make painting on the center fold easy, and straight). Float Sable Brown on apron center following edge of tape. Immediately remove tape, and let dry.
   
2. Palette-shaped buttons. Base the buttons with Sable Brown. Use the #2 round to base the side edges with Asphaltum. Float Sable Brown shading along bottom and right sides of buttons. Use the stylus to dot buttonholes with Soft Black. Base the button thread with Cool White, and shade along the bottom edge of the thread with Cashmere Beige. Apply paint splotches to the buttons: Add Primary Red with a little highlight of Gooseberry Pink on the upper left; add Moon Yellow with a Cool White highlight; Hauser Light Green with a Citron Green highlight; Williamsburg Blue with a Baby Blue highlight; and Pansy Lavender with a Lilac highlight.
   
3. Ruler. Base the ruler with Cashmere Beige, and base the edge on the right side with Sable Brown. Base the lines and numbers with Lamp Black. Shade background shadow with Sable Brown along the right side.
4. Pencil. Base the pencil with True Ochre, shade Sable Brown on the right side, and highlight the left side with Moon Yellow. Base metal ferrule with Slate Grey, shade with Soft Black on right side, and highlight the right side with Cool White. Add horizontal detail lines with Lamp Black. Base eraser with Gooseberry Pink, shade the right side with Soft Black, and highlight the left side lightly with Cool White. Pull a highlight line of Cool White down right side, and shade Sable Brown shadow on the right side
5. Frog. Base the head of the frog with Hauser Light Green, shade with Plantation Pine along bottom and sides of face, and highlight across the top of the face with Citron Green. Base the eyes with Cool White, base the pupils with True Ochre, and base the center of each eye with Soft Black. Add a Cool White highlight to the top left of each eye. Base the eyelids with Hauser Light Green, shade outer edges with Plantation Pine, and highlight the inside edges of the eyelids with Citron Green. Float Sable Brown shadoe along right side of head. Create a thin Lamp Black line across the bottoms of eyelids, and add Lamp Black eyelashes. Base feet with Hauser Light Green, shade right sides of feet with Plantation Pine, and highlight left sides with Citron Green. Float Sable Brown shadowon the right sides of the feet and digits. Add a thin line of Lamp Black along the right side of each digit.
6. Brushes. Base brushes with Williamsburg Blue, shade with Deep Midnight Blue on the left edge of the brush on the left. Also, float Deep Midnight Blue on the right edge of the brush on the right: float Baby Blue on the opposite edges. Base the ferrules with Slate Grey, shade with Soft Black, and highlight with Cool White. Add thin horizontal detail lines with Lamp Black. Base the bristles with Soft Black. Add bristle lines of Slate Grey, and shade below the paint drips on the bristles with Lamp Black. Base the brush tip Primary Red, highlight with Gooseberry Pink, and add a Cool White highlight line down right side and a dot on middle drip. Base the yellow paint with Moon Yellow; shade along the bottom of the drips and the right sides with True Ochre. Add a Cool White line along the left side of the paint. Add a thin highlight of Cool White down ferrule and brush handle. Add Sable Brown shadows around brushes.
7. Dragonflies. Base dragonfly bodies with Hauser Light Green, shade lower portions with Plantation Pine, pull a few thin lines across the bodies, and highlight the tops of the bodies with Citron Green. Base the wings using the #4 round; start at tip and pull toward body, keeping paint heavier at tips and lighter toward the body (wings do not have to be solid and opaque). Use thinned Lamp Black to outline wings, base antennae, and flight path dashes, and use Sable Brown to shadow along the bottom edge of each.
8. Splotches and drips. Base, shade, and highlight splotches and drips in this order: Base the first with Primary Red and add Gooseberry Pink highlights; base the next with Hauser Light Green, add Plantation Pine shading along bottom edges, and add Citron Green highlights; and base the Moon Yellow spots, shade with True Ochre, and add Cool White highlights.
9. Lettering. Base letters with Williamsburg Blue; or for fun, add your little helper’s name instead!

Insert for clear paint can

Cut the paper to fit inside the can. If using watercolor paper, base the paper with Light Buttermilk. Base the lettering with Williamsburg Blue. Create the dragonflies and dotted lines in the same manner as on the apron.

Bristle brushes

1. Red brush. Base with Antique Rose. Base the eyes with Bleached Sand, shade Deep Burgundy around eyes, dot eyes with Williamsburg Blue using the handle end of a brush, and dot the center of each eye with Lamp Black using the stylus. Paint eyebrows, apply a line across the bottom of the eyelids and paint eyelashes with thinned Lamp Black. Add a dot of Cool White on the upper left of each eye. Pull a tiny line on the center of each eyelid with thinned Cool White. Float along the top of the nose with Gooseberry Pink, and shade the bottom of the nose with Deep Burgundy. Add a Cool White dot on top left of the nose. Shade below the brush ferrule with Deep Burgundy.
   
2. Green brush. Base with Hauser Light Green. Create the face in the same manner as the red brush. Shade with Deep Burgundy. Highlight the nose with Gooseberry Pink.
3. Blue brush. Base with Williamsburg Blue. Dot the eyes with Hauser Light Green, shade with Avocado, and highlight with Citron Green. Add all other details in the same manner as previous brushes.

Finish

1. Base the binding along the top and bottom edges of the apron with Primary Red.
   
2. Remove all tracing lines. Set the paint following the manufacturer’s directions on the Fabric Painting Medium bottle.
3. To create pocket, stitch along sides. To create divider in pocket, lift up the flap and stitch up the center.
4. Varnish the brush handles, and let dry.
5. Wrap and tie homespun or decorative ribbon around each brush ferrule. Tie homespun or decorative ribbon on the Clear Paint Can handle.
6. Insert painted paper inside Clear Paint Can and secure with painter’s tape.

Teacher’s Tip

Be sure to use Textile (Fabric) Medium when painting on fabric or clothing. Use a palette knife or stylus to mix the paint and medium well; this will allow the dried paint to be soft and flexible, and the item of clothing will be comfortable to wear.

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For questions concerning this project, you can contact Chris Haughey Designs at 6388 Middle Urbana Road Springfield, OH 45502; or e-mail: chris@cdwood.com or visit her at her website: www.cdwood.com.