Heart

by Effie Carayannis

Inspiration

This project teaches you how to use dotting tools with acrylic paints and mediums to create stunning symmetrical designs.

SUPPLIES: Surface: 8 x 5 Inch MDF-shaped butterfly available from art and craft stores. The design can easily be adapted onto differently shaped surfaces.

PAINTS:

DecoArt® Americana Acrylics:

DA179 Alizarin Crimson

DA067 Lamp (Ebony) Black

DA01 Snow (Titanium) White

DA129 True Red

Other DecoArt® Products:

Americana Multi-Purpose Sealer DS17 Pouring Medium DS135 Traditions Heavy Gel Medium DTAMED.02

Americana Gloss Spray Sealer DAS13

MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES:

½ inch Base coating brush or flat brush Fine grade sandpaper Chalk pencil

Mandala stencils (variety) available from - Happy Dotting Company Mandala dotting tool set-8 double ended tools to create 16 different sized dots available from; www.diymandalastones.com Stylus Paper towels Water Bin Eraser Q-tips® Preparation and background:

Apply two coats of sealer using the basecoating brush, allowing it to dry and lightly sand after each coat. Then, paint the background with three coats of Lamp (Ebony) Black, again allowing drying time between coats.

Drawing the design:

Draw even proportioned circles with the chalk pencil and stencil. Referring to the center dot as your anchor point.

Helpful Tips

• Dip dot tool into the paint, do not scrape off excess paint. • If the paint is too thick or too runny you will not achieve a perfectly round dot. To thin the paint, add pouring medium, a little at a time, and mix it in well until you get the right consistency. If the paint is too runny add heavy gel medium, again a little at a time until you have the right consistency. • Apply each dot with the tool at a 90-degree angle. • When using the larger-sized tools press onto the surface but not all the way down to touch it. When using a small-sized tool or a stylus, apply the dots by touching the surface. • Take your time, allow the paint time to lift off the tool, this way you will achieve a round raised dot. • Always reload your dotting tool (unless the pattern says otherwise) after each dot, and then wipe clean after each application with a paper towel. • Wipe off any mistakes with a damp Q tip, let the area dry, and reapply. • Turn the surface so you are facing straight down at where you are placing the next dot.

Painting Instructions:

The instructions start from the center dot on the left-hand-side of the surface (in this pattern there are two center dots, we will work on the second center dot later as we move through the instructions), then move to the first circle surrounding the dot, and then the next circle and so on referring to the chalk outlines as a guide. When this is completed move to the center dot on the right-hand side and work as above. The instructions below include the color used and the size of the tool. The size of the tool is marked on both ends of each tool as each end is a different size.

Painting the design:

Begin with the center dot on the left-hand side:

1st row -Apply a dot in the center of the design with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.16. When completely dry place a second dot on top of this with Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium)White 2:1 using tool no.10.

2nd row -Apply a circle of dots around the center dot with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.3.

3rd row - Apply a circle of dots around the previous circle with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.4.

4throw -Use Snow (Titanium) White / True Red 1:1 with tool no.3.

5throw - Apply the above mix with tool no.4. When completely dry, place a second dot on top of these with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.2. Next, place Snow (Titanium) White dots in between these using tool no.2

6throw - Apply True Red using tool no.7. When completely dry place a second dot on top of these with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.5.

7throw -Next, place Alizarin Crimson/Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 with the no.14 tool. When completely dry, place a second dot on top of these with True Red using tool no.8

8th row - Apply, Snow (Titanium) White with the no.13 tool. When completely dry, place a second dot on top of these with Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 using tool no.8

9throw -Use True Red with tool no.7. Then, place an Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 - dot between the red dots using the no.7 tool.

10th row – Apply True Red/ Snow (Titanium) White 1:1 using tool no.12. Let it dry and then place another dot on top of these with Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 using tool no.10. With True Red/ Snow (Titanium) White 1:1 walk the dots around each previous dot with tool no. 4, referring to the picture for placement.

11throw - Apply a circle of dots with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.16. Let it dry, and then place another dot on top of these with Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 using tool no.10.

12throw - Apply Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.4.

13th row- Apply Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.6.

Center dot on the right-hand side

1st row -Apply a dot in the center of the design with True Red using tool no.16. When completely dry, and then, place a second dot on top of this with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.10.

2nd row -Apply a circle of dots around the center dot with True Red using tool no.3.

3rd row - Apply a circle of dots around the previous circle with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.3.

4throw -Use True Red / Snow (Titanium) White 1:1 with tool no.3. When completely dry, place a second dot on top of these with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.1

5throw - Apply True Red using tool no.3.

6throw - Next, place Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 with the no.7 tool. When completely dry, place a second dot on top of these with True Red using tool no.5.

7throw - Next, place / Snow (Titanium) White with the no.8 tool. When completely dry, place a second dot on top of these with Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 with the no.6 tool.

8th row - Apply, True Red with the no.4 tool.

9th row - Use True Red / Snow (Titanium) White 1:1 with tool no.4.

10throw- With True Red walk the dots around each dot with tool no.2, referring to the picture for placement.

11throw - Next, place Alizarin Crimson/Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 with the no.7 tool. When completely dry, place a second dot on top of these with Snow (Titanium) White using tool no.5.

Surrounding edges:

The surrounding edges on the top section of the heart and the smaller area on the right -hand side at the base of the heart are painted as follows:

1strow - Apply, True Red with the no.8 tool,

2nd row - Use True Red / Snow (Titanium) White 1:1 with tool no.9.

3rdrow - Use Snow (Titanium) White with tool no.6.

4throw – Use Alizarin Crimson/ Snow (Titanium) White 2:1 with tool no.4. (image003goes here)

Finishing:

Look over your work, if you see that there are any spaces between dots that need filling, then, place some small dots using tool no. 2 or 3, keeping the design symmetrical.

Varnishing:

When dry, erase any visible chalk lines and then apply several light coats of Gloss Spray Sealer allowing drying time between coats.

Contact details

effiecarayannis@optusnet.com.au

Phone +61439653857