Painting Patterns Question

[jillsy]

Just wondering if any of you really good painters know how some people paint checker-board patterns on their carvings? I've seen this done and don't know how they get such perfect squares on carved pieces.

An example would be to look at Williraye Collectibles. This is a husband and wife team. He carves and she paints (and then they mass produce in a different medium). But, she's able to paint hats, scarves, gloves, you name it, in all different sized checkered patterns and I have no clue how she does it.

Jillsy

[Nancy-G]

Jillsy - I use opaque paint so I can manage any pattern at all. My method is no secret but it's boring. Let me know if you use opaque and I'll type the whole boring story - lol

[jillsy]

Nancy, please tell me the whole sordid story!

What may be boring to you, may be very interesting to me. I'm actually intrigued! I use normal acrylics for painting, but am always eager to learn new tricks so please.....tell! Tell all! Details!

Jillsy

[Nancy-G]

I'm posting this cropped photo of a Santa to show his coat which is painted in my usual opaque acrylic paints -- Delta, Americana, FolkArt -- whatever's there.
To do that coat with a repetitive pattern, just like a complicated checkerboard, I draw the pattern on some GRAPH PAPER.

(I use graph paper for everything. I draw every pattern on graph paper. That way making the front and side patterns match exactly is very simple)

By using graph paper I can instantly measure the design, know how many designs will fit inside/across the coat and things like that. When the size and shape of the design suits me I trace it several time on tracing paper and use that a carbon paper onto the Santa. I keep "carboning" with the penciled tracing paper until the entire Santa coat is covered and I'm ready to paint.

Did I make any sense? I'll try to answer any questions.

[AlArchie]

Hmmmpppf.......graph paper, indeed! Delta and Americana paints, huh? Right! I happen to know of that little magic shop just out of St. Louis that sells those brushes and paints that Nancy uses. She ain't kidding me!

Al

[Nancy-G]

Hey -- I ask Al to come visit .... but, NO, he just wants to see that grand daughter.
Go figure.

[AlArchie]

Next time for sure, Nancy! Hey that baby has a lot of magic going for her too. Cast her spell on me right away, and I been spellbound ever since!
Hehehehe........

Al

[Nancy-G]

You know where we live. Talking and you know you and wife are always welcome.

[jillsy]

Nancy, what a SUPER idea! I would have never thought of that.

I've got a few more questions, if you don't mind. How do you wrap the paper around the Santa and hold it still while carboning? And how do you get into the corners? It seems like the paper would slide all over the place. And how do you do around the arms?

Also, how do you paint such crisp perfect blocks and triangles? Do you dry brush? Or is it just years of practice?

Oh, this is going to sound really dumb, but what do you mean by opaque paints? I just go to the craft store and pick out the Folk Art (etc) acrylic paints, choosing which colors I like. Are these opaque? Sorry, I know that must sound like Painting 101, but I don't know alot of the actual terms. I paint by sight and what "feels" right.

I love your Santa! Thanks for adding the picture, visuals help me understand directions much easier!

Jillsy

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

she makes it sound easy, but its tough putting flat paper on round carvings LOL Opague just means "solid" Jillsy, or you can't see thru it, versus transparent or wash.............see, I'm not just another pretty face! Mobster