Fun on the Farm
By Pamela Cassidy
The last in my series of four patterns, ‘Fun on the Farm’, finds our feathered family enjoying a sunny fall day in the pumpkin patch. I hope this painting puts you in the mood for those crisp autumn days that lie ahead. Enjoy!
SUPPLIES
Artist’s Loft, 6x6 Back-Stapled Traditional Canvas, Level 1, available at Michael’s (in-store and online).
PAINTS
DECOART AMERICANA
Antique Gold DA09
Antique White DA058
Baby Blue DA042
Black Plum DA172
Blue Chiffon DA193
Brilliant Red DA145
Bronze DA073
Burnt Orange DA016
Burnt Umber D221
Cadmium Yellow DA010
Charcoal DA088
Driftwood DA171
Foliage Green DA269
Hauser Medium Green DA132
Heritage Brick DA219
Khaki Tan DA173
Plantation Pine DA113
Snow White DA01
Soft Black DA155
Tangerine DA012
MEDIUMS
Folk Art Blending Gel #867 (optional)
Liberty Art Acrylic Matte Varnish #LS28550
BRUSHES
Artist’s Loft Vienna ¾” “ Angle Shader
Artist’s Loft Vienna #2 Filbert
Artist’s Loft Vienna 3/8” Angle Shader
Artist’s Loft Vienna ½” Angle Shader
Artist’s Loft Vienna 10/0 Liner
Loew-Cornell #4 Round
Loew-Cornell #2 Round
MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES
Tracing Paper
Black Graphite Paper
Pencil
Paper Towels
Stylus
Palette Paper
Hair Dryer (optional)
Practice Surface (optional)
HELPFUL HINT
I recommend using a practice surface to try techniques before painting directly on your surface. I use a Canson Mix Media notebook that I purchased at Michael’s. It’s very handy for practicing my work as well as jotting down notes for future reference.
The brushes listed in the pattern are suggested, use whatever brush that works best for you.
Also, when painting the background, try to work quickly to avoid the paint drying before you are able to blend colors.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Trace the pattern onto tracing paper.
2. The sky will be painted using Baby Blue, Blue Chiffon, and Snow White. The ground will be painted using Foliage Green and Hauser Medium Green. You can use a little Blending Gel to avoid hard lines when blending colors. Using the ¾ “ angle, start with Baby Blue at the top of the canvas and apply with horizontal strokes. About a ¼ of the way down, pick up Blue Chiffon on a dirty brush, blend the colors where they meet and continue down a few strokes, then pick up Snow White on the brush and continue. At this point, you should be about ¾ inch down the canvas, rinse your brush, and continue with horizontal strokes of Foliage Green, then Hauser Medium Green at the very bottom. Most of the green background will be covered by the pattern details, but you want to achieve a soft transition between the blue and the green, as that will be visible. Use Snow White to soften the lines while the paint is still wet. Dry thoroughly with a hairdryer.
3. Base the three pumpkins with Burnt Orange using the #4 round.
Transfer in section lines of each pumpkin, as well as the exterior line of the smallest pumpkin. With the ½” angle, float in the shaded areas along the section lines with Heritage Brick. Also, shade around the smaller pumpkin to separate it from the larger one. Reinforce the shading with Black Plum. Highlight each section by floating Tangerine on the inside of each section. Base the stems with Burnt Umber using the #2 round, pull in highlights with Antique White.
4. Using the #4 round, base the inside of the bushel basket with Burnt Umber and the basket with Driftwood. Transfer in the lines of the basket. Float in shadows with Burnt Umber on each basket section, under the top rim, and top/bottom of each horizontal band. Reinforce shading with Soft Black. Using the 3/8 angle shader, pick up some Burnt Umber, using the angled edge of your brush, tap in vertical lines on the sections of the basket to resemble wood grain. This should be done with a light touch, staggering the lines. Do the same horizontally on the basket rim and bands. With the tip of your stylus, tap in the nail heads on the bands.
5. Base the tree using the 3/8 angle with Charcoal. Add the branches using the #2 round. Using the 3/8 angle, pick up some Driftwood, and with the edge of the brush tap in some texture to the tree, alternate between Driftwood and Charcoal. Only the edge of the brush is touching the canvas, hold the brush straight up and down. You do not want straight lines, but a staggering effect, similar to the basket.
6. Transfer in the wagon wheel. Base the wheel with Driftwood using the #4 round, and the center in Soft Black. Shade around the inside of the wheel with Burnt Umber using the 3/8 angle brush.
7. Continue shading the spokes of the wheel and around the center as shown in the photo. Strengthen all shading using Soft Black. Add the wood grain lines with Soft Black in the same manner as the tree and the basket. Mix Bronze and Burnt Umber, to make a rusty color. Paint around the outside of the wheel and the center of the wheel with this color using the #2 round.
8. Transfer in the petals of the sunflowers. Using Antique Gold and the #2 filbert, pull in the rear petals. Dry. Then pull the top petals in using Cad Yellow. Tap in the centers with Soft Black, then highlight with Antique Gold.
9. The leaves are painted with Plantation Pine, Antique Gold, Cad Yellow, and Burnt Orange, using the #2 filbert. Do these leaves similar to the sunflowers. Load your brush, lay it on the canvas, and gently pull then twist to form the pointed end. Do the leaves with a dirty brush, not cleaning between colors. Add fallen leaves under the pumpkins and basket. Then transfer on the bird family.
10. Base four male cardinals Brilliant Red, and the mamma cardinal Khaki Tan. I used my #2 round for the base coats. Using 3/8 angle and Lamp Black, shade under the wings and the top of the tail of the male cardinals. Use Brilliant Red to shade the mama cardinal. Add details to the wings and face with Lamp Black using the 10/0 liner. Add the beaks with Burnt Orange.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Let your project dry thoroughly overnight. Once completely dry, apply one or two coats of varnish using the ¾ inch angle brush.
Pattern & Photos ©2020 Pamela Cassidy