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Instructions
Trompe Loeil Postcards
on Tray
Preparation instructions
and requirement list
Basecoat your chosen
piece in Matisse beige or similar. This will require 2-3 coats, with light
sanding in between coats. Please note that it is important that you retain and
bring to workshop some of your basecoat colour so please ensure that you will
have enough in the tube/jar to complete the project and bring a small amount for
touch-ups, etc.
REQUIREMENTS
Basecoat colour Matisse
beige or similar (bring some to class)
JS Ultrablue deep JS
Storm Blue
JS Brilliant green JS
Napthol red light
JS Yellow oxide JS Cad.
Yellow med.
JS Warm white JS Burnt
umber
JS Turners yellow JS
Titanium white
JS Burnt sienna JS Black
JS smoked pearl JS
Napthol crimson
Favourite brush for
lettering (if desired). I use a no 3 sable, as the point is ideal. You may
prefer a permanent pen.
Micron Pigma fine to
medium point permanent pen for lettering, If unable to obtain this pen, you may
use Uniball or similar, but will need to check compatibility with varnish you
intend to use. You may use a liner or lettering brush if you prefer.
½ flat brush in good
condition No 3 round brush
"Scotch" brand
magic tape Favourite liner
Transfer paper and
stylus Hairdryer
Clear glaze medium
Retarder (optional)
Palette, water
container, paper towel, etc
Boyles matt spray
varnish or similar (if using another brand, you may need to check compatibility
with permanent pen used)
Step by step
instructions
You may wish to tape and
basecoat both postcards at once. Once taped, a light application of your
basecoat colour will seal the edges and minimise bleeding. Proceed to basecoat
your postcards with 2 coats JS smoked pearl. You may find the next step easier
if you leave tape around the left hand postcard, however beware of leaving tape
on your piece for more than a couple of hours as it may adhere permanently and
lift your basecoat. If you sealed the tape you may also need to lightly score
around it with a craft knife or similar before removing.
Beach Scene
You may wish to use
retarder instead of water for this stage, however do not mix retarder and water
together either in your brush or your paint.
Lightly apply water to
postcard surface then with diluted Ultrablue deep, wash in top third to
represent sky. Paint this deeper colour at top and fading down.
Add touch Brilliant
green to brush and paint in second third to represent water. The horizon line
should be hazy but still distinguishable. Wash brush and use dilute Yellow oxide
to wash in remaining third to represent sand. This should to darker at bottom
edge and fade to meet the water.
Dry and apply a layer of
clear glaze medium. When dry, float in waves and clouds in side loaded warm
white. You may also adjust depth of colour at this stage, if necessary.
Transfer detail of
postcard excluding the stripes of the houses.
Base in left bathing
house in Turners yellow with Napthol red light roof. Stripes are Storm blue and
Napthol red light.
Base in middle bathing
house in Storm blue with warm white roof. Stripes are warm white. Life buoy is
Warm white with Napthol red light candy stripes.
Base in right bathing
house in Napthol red light with Storm blue roof . Window frame is Storm blue and
stripes are Cad. Yellow med. Cast shadows are washy Burnt umber.
Distant land is Burnt
umber. Seagulls are burnt umber commas.
White yacht is Burnt
umber hull with Warm.white sails.
Red yacht is Burnt umber
hull with Napthol red light sails.
"Shine" on
postcard is flip float Titanium white.
Cast shadow is washy
burnt umber, build up in layers.
Dry.
Written postcard
If not already done,
tape off and base twice in Smoked pearl. Remove tape.
Transfer design
including outline of stamp but no detail.
Base in stamp with Warm
white. Two coats may be necessary.
Using your picture of
the stamp as a reference, use washy Ultrablue deep to paint in "sky",
then adding a little Brilliant green to mix, paint in "water". Sides
are washy Napthol red light. Dry.
Detail of birds, price,
etc, can now be transferred if desired.
Repaint in warm white
border if necessary.
Bird's necks are Warm
white with a little Napthol red light/Cad yellow mix at base. Bodies are Burnt
umber. Heads are Napthol red light and beaks Black. Orange price rectangle is
mix of Napthol red light and Cad yellow med. Note this extends over white
border. Price and word "Australia" are Warm white. Dot washy Burnt
umber at intervals around outer border to represent serrated edge.
Cast shadows are washy
Burnt umber, built up in layers. LIGHTLY outline entire postcard with very washy
Burnt umber mix.
Dry.
The word
"POSTCARD", writing and lines may be either painted with Burnt umber
and liner or written with permanent pen. You may wish to complete this step
after painting in the pencil.
Pencil
Transfer pencil,
including crosshatching representing shadow.
Tape off and seal if
desired. Dry and base body of pencil in Napthol crimson and "woody"
part in Burnt sienna/warm white mix. This may require several coats. Once dry,
paint in black stripes. Remove tape and paint cap with black. Paint in stripe
around cap with warm white and lead of pencil in Burnt umber. Dry brush on
highlights down centre with Warm white and once dry, broken line of Titanium
white.
Cast shadow is washy
Burnt umber built up in layers.
To finish, spray with
Boyles matt spray varnish. Several layers will be needed, drying well between
each application. Gloss will create reflections and spoil the illusion. This
piece is designed to be viewed from above so place on low coffee table or
similar to complete the "trick".