Circle Snowmen, Part One

You will need:

A surface (of course)

I find that it is easier to do a wet on wet blending technique on canvas.

Anything with a "tooth" will work though

and

canvas suitcases are a great surface to work on. 

Wet on wet blending on smooth surfaces gets a little trickier

so when you are starting or practicing

this technique, look for something that will make it easier.

 

Those inexpensive canvas boards are a good way to start.

Now back to what you will need:

Circle Template (or two)

Pencil, of course

Chalk pen or chalk (not pictured)

Paint

and

Brushes.

 

Ok, so I am pretty loose where it comes to paint colors.

Look for ones that blend together nicely

and

experiment.

I have done these in browns also.

Light Cinnamon,

Bleached Sand...

White.

 

Brushes.

I really like a filbert for these.

It is already rounded and doesn't make hard edges in your blending

as a flat would.

That being said,

I have painted a lot of these with flats,

so don't feel that you have to run out and buy a filbert.

 

I use Loew Cornell brushes, mostly.

Good brushes can be the key to getting good results!

 

 

And so,

Sketch in with the chalk pencil or chalk where you think you want your circles.

Then, with the pencil or circle template

actually draw them in.  

Base all the circles in with a medium blue.

You don't want this to blend in with the background,

but you don't want it so light that you don't have anywhere to go with highlights.

Begin then with the base color and re-basecoat the circle,

while this is wet,

pick up the tiniest bit of the darker blue

and shade the left side and bottom of the circle. 

Now,

here is the most important tip of wet on wet painting....

Wait for it...

Make sure that you hear it....

Do not..

DO NOT!

DIP YOUR BRUSH IN WATER!

 

Did you all get that? 

Do I need to repeat it?

Because I have taught classes and people

and

have said that loudly and no sooner said it

than I heard the swish, swish, swish in the water!

 

Honestly.

 

It makes me want to dump that water right over their cute little painting heads.

 

Sorry!

 

Wipe your brush,

blot your brush,

squeeze your brush between two paper towels,

then pick up some of the medium blue and some of the beigy white

and

lightly start to lay that in on the upper right side of the circle.

 



Lay it in the middle and lightly blend around the edges of it. 

And don't forget to add a little reflected light on the left

ever so lightly.

This really helps to make your ball look round

and a little frosty. 

 

Add another highlight of white, a little smaller

and blend the same way. 

This is what your palette should look like.

This technique does not take much paint.

And there is the first snowman done.

The key of this is to not overblend. 

They are choppy looking. 

Snowmen

and

snowwomen

are not smooth anyway.

The have some cellulite issues.

 

I find it is easier to do several circles at once,

it gives them a little time to tack up for the drybrushing.

 

To Be continued...

 

Hope this helps all of you,

don't hesitate to ask for directions

or help.

 

Oh, and one last thing.

Share this, pin this, use it,

paint for yourself or for profit,

just don't share the directions as your own...

please!