Mixed Media Bird Girl

Mixed Media Bird Girl

Posted by DecoArt on Jul 2nd 2014

Create this cute little bird lover with Mixed Media products.

SUPPLIES

    • water container
    • palette or plastic plate
    • paper towels
    • transfer paper
    • scissors
    • #3 round brush
    • 1" flat brush
    • #2 round brush
    • 3/4" flat brush
    • #2 liner brush
    • cosmetic sponge
    • assorted scrapbook paper
    • small polka dot stencil
    • palette knife

    INSTRUCTIONS

    NOTES:

    Let dry completely between painting steps.

    1. Choose 2 pieces of decorative paper to decoupage to the 12x12 canvas. The paper may be 12x12 like the canvas but if it's not large enough, blow it up on a color copier.
    2. Rip one of the pieces so that it can go down the middle of the canvas. The ends should be straight to go along the edge of the canvas but the sides should be torn. Apply to the canvas with Decou-page Medium in Matte with the 1" flat brush.
    3. Instruction #2
    4. Rip the other paper so that there are 3 straight sides to go along the straight edges of the canvas and one ripped side to cover the other paper. Apply in the same method as above.
    5. Instruction #3
    6. Use the 3/4" and Cobalt Turquoise on the edges of the canvas where the blue paper is. Add water to the paint and let it fade as you paint toward the center. Make a wash of Green Gold (no need to wash the brush) and paint over the center of the canvas. Get a little more Green Gold on the brush and paint the edges of the center paper.
    7. Instruction #4
    8. Put a tablespoon of White Modeling Paste on a palette or plate and add a puddle of Quinacridone Violet that is about 20% of the size of the Modeling Paste.
    9. Instruction #5
    10. Mix with your palette knife.
    11. Instruction #6
    12. Using the palette knife, apply the Modeling Paste to the edges of the canvas front. Smear the Paste towards the middle to make a dragged texture.
    13. Instruction #7
    14. Carve into the Modeling Paste with the handle tip of a small paintbrush.
    15. Instruction #8
    16. Make a puddle of Texture Sand and add a puddle of Cobalt Turquoise that does not exceed 20% of the size of the Texture Sand.
    17. Instruction #9
    18. Mix with the palette knife.
    19. Instruction #10
    20. Using the Kaleidoscope Accent Stencil, make 3D stencils randomly around the edge of the canvas with the palette knife.
    21. Instruction #11
    22. Find a picture of a bird on the internet or from your own collection and blow it up to about 6 1/2 inches wide. Cut it out and set aside.
    23. Instruction #12
    24. Use the 3/4" flat brush to dry brush on the canvas. Dip the brush in a 1:1 mixture of Cobalt Teal and Titanium White. Have a wet paper towel handy so you can wipe back the paint quickly if it goes on too thick.
    25. Instruction #13
    26. Use the pattern and transfer paper to transfer the girl shape to the canvas. Don't transfer her face details yet.
    27. Instruction #14
    28. Fill in her face and neck with Titanium White with just a touch of Primary Magenta and a touch of Primary Yellow. Use the 1/2" flat brush. Add a tiny bit more Primary Magenta to the mixture and give her pink cheeks and a pink nose.
    29. Instruction #15
    30. Mix a color for the hair with 3:1:1 Dioxazine Purple, Titanium White and Cobalt Turquoise. Apply the hair color with the #3 round brush. Save this color for the shirt highlights. Mix a little more Titanium White with the hair color and add highlights with the #2 round brush.
    31. Instruction #16
    32. Decoupage the bird on her head with the Matte Medium and the #3 round brush. With the hair color and the #2 brush, fill in the scallops you carved into the Modeling Paste and brush a little around the perimeter of the painting.
    33. Instruction #17
    34. Paint the shirt with Primary Magenta and the #3 round brush. Add a little of the hair color to the brush and add highlights. Make a mixture of 2:1 Dioxazine Purple and Titanium White. Fill in her collar with the #2 round brush. Use the #2 liner brush to add some details to the bird with the shirt color and the collar color.
    35. Instruction #18
    36. Use the #2 round brush and a mixture of 2:1 Green Gold and Titanium White. Smudge as you go with your finger.
    37. Instruction #19
    38. Transfer the rest of her face details onto the canvas.
    39. Instruction #20
    40. Use a small polka dot stencil and make a mixture of Titanium White and a touch of Primary Magenta to make a nice soft pink. See photo. Apply the dots with a cosmetic sponge.
    41. Instruction #21
    42. Use the #3 round brush to add a mixture of 1:1 Medium Grey Value 6 and Dioxazine Purple to the bottom of a lid. Save this mix. I used the lid to the Modeling Paste. The lid should be about 2 inches in diameter. Stamp the lid on her face like glasses. Reload the paint for the second stamp.
    43. Instruction #22
    44. Use the same mixture for the glasses to draw the nose piece. Add a few accents to the bird with the #2 liner brush and the glasses mixture. With the #2 round brush, fill in her irises with Cobalt Turquoise around the perimeter and Green Gold in the center. Using #2 round brush, fill in her eyes with Titanium White and give a highlight to her eyes.
    45. Instruction #23
    46. Outline the girl and bird. Add little swirls and designs for interest. See photo.
    47. Instruction #24
    48. Paint the edge of the canvas with Dioxazine Purple.

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    Girl Pattern