Painting Tips:

When painting on paper mache, basecoat all surfaces to prevent warping and to strengthen the box. If it bubbles, let it dry completely. Most bubbles will disappear when dry. Apply all shading and highlighting by floating color with a side-loaded brush. When I use the term "glaze",use a sheer float of color by carrying more water in your brush. Using your favorite medium will also work. Glazing will help keep the look soft.

Preparation:

Mix Multi-Purpose Sealer with Wisteria (1:1) and basecoat the entire box. When dry, sand lightly and coat again with Wisteria only. Moisten the outer edge of top with clear water. While still damp, apply a wide float of Wisteria + Deep Periwinkle (1:2). When dry apply pattern for basic shapes. Base head and shoulders Flesh Tone. Reapply lines for all facial features and detail lines as needed. Thin Shading Flesh + Flesh Tone (2:1) with water and line all facial features with a liner.

Face

Shade face with Shading Flesh + Flesh Tone (2:1) above the eye lids, across top of the head and below chin. Place a c-stroke above mouth to indicate an indent and shade on the bottoms of the nostril covers and ball of nose, around the nostril covers on the face, on tops of shoulders, the bottoms of cheeks, under the center of lower lip, inside of ears, down the sides of head.

Place a flip-float across the bridge of nose between the corners of eyes. Highlight face with Hi-Lite Flesh on the ball of nose, edges of nostril covers, center of chin, cheeks and forehead, above and below outer portions of lip. Glaze with Sable Brown at the temples, above eye lids, between eyes, in corners where the neck touches the face. Line the eyelids and paint tiny stokes for eyebrows. Apply a light Glaze of Blue/Grey Mist above eye lids, on temple areas and in corners of the neck. Blush with a sheer Glaze of Coral Rose on cheeks and tip of nose.

Paint lips with Coral Rose + a touch of Flesh Tone. Shade tops of each lip, bottom of lower lip and line smile with Antique Rose. Highlight centers of each lip by dry brushing Flesh Tone.

The whites of eyes are Hi-Lite Flesh and the iris is Desert Turquoise+White. Outline iris with Desert Turquoise and pull lines from a
point above center in the iris to the outside edge like spokes in a wagon
wheel. Shade top of iris with Desert Turquoise. Use Charcoal for pupil and line top of eye. When dry shade with Charcoal across the entire top of eye.

Use Charcoal + Sable Brown for lashes. Highlight eye with a dot of Titanium White at 2 0'clock and a curved line from 9 o'clock to 7 o'clock.

Thin Sable Brown with water and paint short, fine hair with the
rake brush. Add a few hairs with Sable Brown + Charcoal to create added dimension.

Wings

With Wisteria + Deep Periwinkle (1:2) shade behind feathers and on the wings next to baby's head and shoulders . Use this same mix to shade around outer edge of box top. Highlight the outer edges of wings and each feather with a sheer float of Titanium White. Place a few random floats among feathers. Add sheer tints of Pineapple on the wings and deepen shade next to baby's head and shoulders with Deep Periwinkle.

Details

Float Titanium White above head to create base for halo glow. When dry, float Pineapple over the white. Paint the lettering with Deep Periwinkle and line Glorious Gold on the left and bottom of each letter. Use Deep Periwinkle for the curved line edging top and band of box top. Wording inside the lid and sponging on the bottom of the box is Wisteria + Deep Periwinkle (1:2).

Finish:

When completely dry, spray all surfaces with 2 light coats of matte finish to protect.

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