Santa JoyJillybean Fitzhenrywww.Jillybean.net

Santa has always brought Joy to children at Christmas time. These bright colors make this a happy project to paint. DecoArt has a color conversion chart for Americana and Tradition paints on the website: www.decoart.com

SurfaceLarge 6" square sign w/ scroll on topFrom www.bearwithusinc.com

Palette – DecoArt Traditions AquamarinePhthalo BlueTitanium WhitePine GreenCarbon BlackMedium WhiteRaw SiennaBurnt SiennaBurnt UmberHansa YellowPerinone OrangeNaphthol Red LightBurgundyDecoArt Americana:Warm BeigeSoft PeachCitron Green

MediumsTraditions Extender Blending MediumDecoArt Sealer Finisher Spray Varnish – Gloss

Brushes¼”, ½” Angles10/0 Script#2 Rigger¼” Rake#4 Round#4 Dome BlenderFan Brush for spatteringLarge flat for base coatingFoam makeup sponge to base scrolls.

Painting SuppliesPaper palette, water bowl, paper towels, gray

graphite paper, stylus, tape, tracing paper, pencil, fine sandpaper.

Helpful Tips

Thin lines - Dilute paint with 50% water. When using either the script or rake.

Blending – Use Extender Blending Medium in your brush instead of water to allow more time for blending. You can also use it to pre moisten the surface but use it sparingly and blot off any excess with a paper towel. Use a blender brush to gently blend away harsh lines.

Floating Color – Use either Extender Blending Medium or water in the brush. Load only one corner of the angle brush with the color. Surface PreparationUse a large flat brush to apply 2 coats of Aquamarine on the square area. Use a foam

makeup sponge to dab 2 coats of Titanium White on the scroll area. Sand between all coats with a fine sand paper.

Step 1 – Background Mottled LookMoisten the entire background with a little water. Use a ½” angle to slip slap the two opposite corners with Phthalo Blue. Think of the letter “X” as you apply the brush strokes. Start in the very corners and as you run out of paint, blend with Aquamarine in the center. Also add a few brush strokes of Titanium White in the top area about where the lettering will be.

Step 2 – Transfer Pattern and Base CoatTransfer the pattern on with grey graphite paper and stylus. Omit the facial features until after the face has been base coated.

Use a round brush to base coat the face, hat, holly and berries. A round brush allows you to apply the paint thick for a better coverage.

Base coat: Face - Warm Beige.Hat – Burgundy.Hat fur – Thin lines of Burnt Umber with rake. Holly – Pine Green.Berries – Warm Beige.Lettering – Titanium White using a rigger script brush. A rigger is like a script but has a tip that spreads out flat instead of pointed. It makes the square edges of the lettering easier to paint. Use the script for the snowflake details.Eye – Carbon Black pupil, Aquamarine iris and Titanium White corner.

Eyebrow – Carbon Black thin lines with script.

Step 3 – Face DetailsFace Photo 1:Shade the face with a mix of Warm Beige + Burnt Sienna 1:1. Use a ¼” angle brush to corner load the color and float or blend it in the shadow areas as shown. Note that the shadow between nose and cheek should have no harsh edges or lines. Use a blender brush to soften away hard edges throughout the face. Shade top of the iris with Phthalo Blue. Outline edge of iris with a thin line of Phthalo Blue. Highlight center of the cheek, top tip of nose, top of the nostril, front edges of the skin above and below the eye with a blend of Soft Peach or mix Titanium White + Warm Beige 2:1.

Face Photo 2:Deepen the shadows with a float or blend of Burnt Sienna. Note that not all of the shadow areas get the deeper color. Outline the top and bottom edge of the eye with a thin line of Carbon Black. Add Titanium White highlights in the pupil and bottom edge of the iris. Add thin lines of the Medium White in the eyebrow with a script.

Face Photo 3: Use a mix of Naphthol Red Light + Warm Beige 1:1 to blend on the cheek, nose and lip.Add more thin lines in the eyebrows with Titanium White. Eyelashes are thin lines of Carbon Black.

Step 4 – Beard and Hat

Blend Naphthol Red Light on the top edges of the folds in the hat. Use the rake to add thin lines of Medium White in the beard and fur. Note directions of lines. Fill in the letters “J” and “Y” with Hansa Yellow.

Step 5 – Shade Beard and FurFloat Burnt Umber on the top of the mustache, under the lip, next to the tail of the hat and a few areas througout the beard. Also in the fur next to the tail of the hat and top of the fur ball.

Step 6 – More Beard and FurAdd more thin lines of Titanium White in the beard and fur. Use both the script to do this. Shade the top and bottom of the letters with Perinone Orange. Including the star. Note that the star should be all Hansa Yellow first.

Step 7 - Holly and Berries

Base the berries again using Naphthol Red Light this time. Highlight the top edges of the holly with a float of Pine Green + Hansa Yellow 1:2. Also along the center vein but add a little Titanium White to the mix this time. Highlight the top edges of the berries with a float of Naphthol Red Light + Titanium White 1:1. Also add a Titanium White dot in each. Outline the top edges of the holly with Citron Green. Outline the opposite edges with Burnt Umber. Outline the bottom edges of the berries with Burgundy if needed.

Step 8 – More DetailsRefer to finished photo. Float tints of Raw Sienna in the fur next to the tail of the hat and on the top of the ball. Deepen the Burnt Umber shadow in the beard to the right of the tail of the hat. Add thin sparkle lines in the snowflake as shown in finished photo.

FinishingSpatter snow with Titanium White. Dilute the Paint with 80% water. Load the fan brush with the color. Tap the handle of the fan brush against the handle of another brush to spatter tiny drops of paint on the project. Always test on your palette to make sure the drops are the size you want.

Shade the scrolls with a float of Perinone Orange going over half way up. Repeat again with Naphthol Red Light to deepen only the bottom edge.

Allow to dry completely. Use DecoArt spray Sealer Finisher to varnish it. I like the gloss but you could also use the matte finish.