beginner pattern
"Mini Acorn Birdhouse" packet!!
by
Melinda Frewin

PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS
Copyright © Melinda Frewin 1997
May be used for fun and profit and teaching in class. No mass or commercial reproduction without consent from Melinda Frewin. E-mail for any other questions. Thank you.

This cute little project looks great hanging in my ficus trees or in a window.
They make great gifts and paint up quickly for craft shows.

Painting Level: Beginner

Supplies Needed

3" x 2" Birdhouse can be purchased at Zim's

DecoArt Americana Paints:

Mink Tan
Burnt Umber
Desert Sand
Leaf Green
Snow White
Golden Straw
Uniform Blue
Midnight Blue
Lamp (Ebony) Black
Multi-purpose sealer
Satin Varnish

Brushes (American Painter Brushes by Loew Cornell):

#10 Flat
#4 Flat
#1 Round
10/0 Liner

 

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Instructions

Prep

Sand birdhouse with a fine sandpaper

Seal with the multi-purpose sealer

Let dry and then sand again.

Please refer to beginner lesson for help with any of the strokes.

Painting

Mink Tan

Base the lower section (the nut part) of the acorn.

Mink Tan + Burnt Umber (mix 1:1)

Base in the roof (the cap) of the acorn.

Burnt Umber

Base perch, button on the bottom of acorn and inside of hole. With a sideload/float, shade the top of the roof, under the roof on the lower section (shade goes on the mink tan, with the darkest part of the float next too the roof). Shade around the button (shade goes on the mink tan, with the darkest part of the shade next to the button).

Mink Tan

Dry brush highlights on the roof.

Desert Sand

Dry brush highlights on the lower section of acorn. Keep the highlight in the center.

Leaf Green

With a liner brush, line in all the vines all the way around the acorn.

Snow White

Base in half of the flowers, give each of the flowers 5 petals. Make sure to leave spaces for the yellow flowers.

Golden Straw

Base in the rest of the flowers, give each of the flowers 5 petals.

Burnt Umber

With an old round brush, dab in the centers of each flower.

Uniform Blue

Base in the birds.

Midnight Blue

With a sideload/float, shade the bottom of the bird. With a liner brush, outline the top of the wing.

Snow White

With a sideload/float (blend it out very light), highlight the head and back of the bird.

Golden Straw

Base in the beak.

Lamp Black

Dot on the bird eye.

Leaf Green

With an old round brush, dab in the leaves around the flowers and birds.

This is a good time to look at your acorn and any place that looks empty or sparse, add in a flower or some leaves.

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Finish

When the acorn is all dry, varnish with Satin varnish.

Have fun painting!!! Melinda

 
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