Cheerful Tree Topper

Pattern

Instructions

PREPARATION
Transfer pattern for outline of design onto watercolor paper.
PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS
1. With scruffy brush and Dove Grey, stipple all over snowman. Do not make it solid; make it heavier near edges.
2. Do not clean brush; pick up Titanium White and starting in middle of snowman, stipple all over, making him lighter in the middle, face and down centers of arms.
3. Transfer pattern details.
4.Basecoat hat band and scarf with Santa Red. Add stripes with Victorian Blue and Titanium White.
5. Basecoat hat, mittens, eyes, mouth and buttons Lamp Black.
6. Basecoat nose Cadmium Orange.
7. Add Santa Red stripe to mittens with a stripe of Victorian Blue over this.
8. Brush blend Dove Grey and Victorian Blue to a light medium value. Float around face, down and under arms, along both sides, bottom of snowman and edge of mittens, keeping color soft.
9. Using Deep Midnight Blue and a narrow float, shade scarf and hat band on each side. On scarf, shade around knot, next to face, left side of scarf hanging down, and bottom of scarf flying up. Add folds with chisel edge of brush.
10. Float highlights using Titanium White, along thumb, ends of mittens, at right side of knot in scarf, along top edge of scarf that is flying and at right edge of scarf that is hanging down.
11. Place small Titanium White comma strokes in eyes and buttons at about 11 o’clock. Place another dot at about 2 o’clock. With chisel edge of brush, add highlights to folds in scarf. Place back-to-back float in center of hat band. and soft float at top of hat and around brim.
12. Place small float of Burnt Sienna at underside of nose.
Banner
1. Cut watercolor paper into 11 squares, 3/4" each.
2. Make copies of letters and cut them in 1/2" squares. Glue these to watercolor squares.
3. Using large needle and string or cord, string letters, beginning with letter “R” and assembling backwards to spell “HAPPY WINTER.”
4. Outline each square with Santa Red.
5. Adjust string and tie in back.
FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Using sharp scissors, cut Santa to straight lines that go to edge of paper. Continue with curved section at bottom. Go back to straight edge and continue cutting along sides of snowman until you are about 1/2" from bottom.
2. Fold unpainted sections together in back and secure with paper clip or tape.