Nature Hat
by Margaret Riley
Painting on a hat? Well, of course! Adorn your hat with gifts from nature, such as bugs, butterflies, dragonflies, and more. Adding a shadow under each creature gives your hat a more 3-D look. This fedora hat will be noticed by all that encounter the wearer. Never painted? No problem. Just follow these easy instructions.
SUPPLIES:
SURFACE:
Any close-woven hat or a felt hat
PAINTS:
DecoArt®:
SoSoft® Fabric Acrylics:
DSS57 Baby Pink Deep
DSS93 Bittersweet Orange
DSS92 Bright Yellow
DSS102 Brown
DSS04 Cadmium Orange Hue
DSS52 Fuchsia
DSS75 Green Apple
DSS79 Indian Turquoise
DSS24 Lamp Black
DSS12 Lavender
DSS106 Peacock Teal
DSS88 Red Pepper
DSS77 Santa Red
DSS01 White
SoSoft® Fabric Glitters:
DSSFG01 Clear Ice
BRUSHES:
(You may use fabric brushes or soft bristle brushes of your choice.)
Liner No. 10/0
Round No. 4
Flat Nos. 4 and 6
MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES:
Tracing paper and pencil
Red Ink Pen
Graphite (Gray for white hat and black for other colors.)
Brush Basin
Paper Towels
Palette Paper
Stylus
Straight pin
Note: Use the brush that best suits the area. Blend colors while still wet.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Using a pencil, trace patterns onto tracing paper.
2. Trace the pattern onto the hat. Note: It is easier if the pattern is cut just slightly larger than the design, as well as the graphite. To secure the pattern in place, pin it to the hat. Use a red ink pen to trace the pattern onto the hat.
DRAGONFLY #1:
Paint body Brown.
Highlight with Green Apple.
Paint the eyes Green Apple or use the end of the smallest brush handle.
On each wing, tap on a dot of Baby Pink Deep and feather it out from the dot. Randomly, add a dot of Indian Turquoise and feather it out. On the tip, blend in a bit of Bright Yellow. Repeat for each wing.
Using the liner, dip into water…do not blot out. Pick up onto brush some Lamp Black. Smear it onto the palette to liquefy the black. Outline the wings and body.
With this thinned Lamp Black, add legs and lines on each wing.
On the left side of wings, body, and legs, add shadow; paint a mixture of Lamp Black and White (4:1 making grey) around those areas. Allow to dry completely.
Brush on Clear Ice Fabric Glitter to each wing.
DRAGONFLY #2:
Paint body Indian Turquoise.
Shade with Peacock Teal.
Steps 3-8 are the same as Dragonfly #1.
BUTTERFLY #1:
(On top of hat.)
Paint the shadow area with a mixture of Lamp Black and White (4:1 making grey).
Base wings Cadmium Orange.
Shadow along black areas in Bittersweet Orange.
Highlight, more so in the center areas, in Bright Yellow and add a small touch of White to give more dimension.
Paint edges of each wing and body in Lamp Black.
Add a touch of White here and there.
Paint the body with Lamp Black and add touches of White for highlighting.
Using the liner, dip into water…do not blot out. Pick up onto brush some Lamp Black. Smear it onto the palette to liquefy the black. You’ll be using this for outlining and you’ll need to have it a soupy consistency. Add lines on each wing section plus add antennas.
Using a stylus, add a Lamp Black dot at the outer end of the antennas.
Lightly brush on some Clear Ice Fabric Glitter to butterfly. Don’t do a complete coverage.
BUTTERFLY #2:
(On side of hat.)
Paint the shadow area with a mixture of Lamp Black and White (4:1 making grey).
Base wings Baby Pink Deep.
Shadow along black areas in Fuchsia.
Highlight along top edges and outward from each wing with White.
Add a touch of Lavender for more dimension.
Paint the body with Lamp Black and add touches of White for highlighting.
Using the liner, dip into water…do not blot out. Pick up onto brush some Lamp Black. Smear it onto the palette to liquefy the black. Add lines on each wing section plus add antennas.
Using a stylus, add a Lamp Black dot at the outer end of the antennas.
Lightly brush on some Clear Ice Fabric Glitter but don’t do a complete coverage
LADYBUG:
Basecoat body in Red Pepper.
Shade along outer edge Santa Red.
Highlight the center top in White.
Add Lamp Black to the head, center stripe, and dots.
Thin Lamp Black as done on dragonflies and butterflies to do legs and antennas.
Add some White highlight on dots and head.
Do a grey shadow on the left side of the body and the left side of the legs on the right side.
Add a touch of Clear Ice Fabric Glitter to the top but don’t do a complete coverage.
Enjoy!
Pattern & Photos ©2022 Margaret Riley