Romantic Painted Roses Dress Form

Steps:

1. Neatly trace and transfer the design to the fabric form by using graphite paper.

2. Carefully apply textile medium to the design area (be careful that the textile medium doesn't bleed). Complete one item at a time.

Figure B

3. To paint the leaves: Paint the leaves that are underneath the rose first. Apply textile medium to a leaf. Apply green umber at the base of the leaf. Apply Hauser green medium or Hauser green light in the middle of the leaf. Apply titanium white at the top.

4. Wipe your brush and blend where the edges of the colors meet each other. Use a light touch. Add more textile medium and paint if needed. Don't over-blend.

5. To paint the roses: Make a light pink mixture by combining titanium white and true burgundy (4 to 1). Apply textile medium to the rose design. Paint must be thinned with water to a flowing consistency. Use a #10 flat brush in excellent condition. To double load: Stroke against the edge of the light pink many times; then stroke against the edge of the true burgundy. Blend on the wet palette so the two colors graduate through the hairs of the brush from dark to light.

Figure D

6. Paint the back petals first. Pick up more paint as needed.

Figure G

7. Paint the bowl; then paint the side petals as shown in the image. The first 13 strokes are called "the shell."

Figure H

8. Over-stroke with comma-like strokes.

9. Fill in the center with true burgundy.

10. To add a rosebud (not shown): The bud is formed with brushstrokes. Paint the bud with a double-loaded brush containing light pink and true burgundy.

11. The calyx are painted with a double-loaded brush of green umber and Hauser green medium (or Hauser green light).

Figure I

12. To paint the curlicues: Fill a #1 liner brush with green umber that has been thinned with water to an ink-like consistency. Holding the handle of the brush straight up, slowly paint the curlicues.

13. To finish: Let the paint dry and cure thoroughly.