Easy Steps to "Build" a Snowman
Instead of a shovel, grab a brush; instead of snow, build with paint.
by Linda Lover

DIRECTIONS:
1. Glass ball may be left frosted or basecoat with Blueberry using the #8 shader or the sponge. Allow to dry completely. If removing crown before painting, use extreme care as glass is fragile. It is easiest to paint half the ball, dry and paint the remaining half. Two coats give best coverage. Using a brush will speed drying time as paint applied with the sponge is thicker.

2. Transfer pattern to tracing paper and then onto ball.

3. Dry brush a small area under the snowman with Snow White using the 1/4" handle. Dry brush is a technique where most of the paint is removed from the brush before painting the surface.

4. Paint the snow areas of the snowman (face, hands and lower part of the body with Snow White using the #4 shader. Allow to dry and repaint with Snow White and while paint is still wet, tip the corner of the brush lightly in Blueberry and blend into the wet paint to shade under the hat and under the jacket and sleeves.

5. It is optional to basecoat the jacket and scarf area white; this will keep the colors brighter without applying two or three coats. Paint the jacket Santa Red using the #4 shader. To shade inside the sleeves and front (by the buttons) tip the corner of the brush in Blueberry and blend into wet paint. To highlight the one sleeve load the shader with Santa Red and tip one corner in Snow White and paint keeping the white to the top; pull brush across a second time to blend.

6. Use the liner to paint the snowflake on the jacket Snow White. Dot the buttons Blueberry and dot at the left side with Snow White to highlight.

7. Paint the scarf Cadmium Yellow. While paint is still wet, tip the corner of the brush in Raw Sienna and blend the darker color into the folds and at the edges. Paint the fringe Cadmium Yellow with the liner. Paint the stripe and make the dots Leaf Green with the liner.

8. Paint the hat Lamp Black with the #4 shader, tipping the corner in Snow White to highlight the top and the brim. Paint the hat band Santa Red with the liner

9. Dot the eyes and mouth Lamp Black and paint the nose Burnt Orange with the liner.

10. Paint the cardinal Santa Red with the #4 shader and dot the face Lamp Black with the liner. Mini dot the beak Cadmium Yellow with the liner. Shade the wing Blueberry using the corner of the shader.

11. Paint the birdhouse Raw Sienna with the filbert; touch the edge of the filbert in Snow White and pull up at the bottom to highlight. Dot the opening and perch Blueberry with the liner. Blend a dot of Snow White in the opening. Pull the liner over Blueberry, turn and pull over Snow White and paint the roof keeping the white side of the liner to the top of the roof.

12. Paint the bow Cadmium Yellow and dot Santa Red with the liner. Paint the string Raw Sienna.

13. Load the liner for the sled with Snow White and Raw Sienna as done for the roof and paint the top of the sled keeping Snow White to the top. Paint the runners Lamp Black with the liner. Paint the rope Raw Sienna.

14. Basecoat the tree Leaf Green using the filbert. Touch the edge of the filbert in Snow White and pull up at the bottom section of the tree for snow highlight; repeat for the section above. The shape of the brush will create the scallops. Paint the star Cadmium Yellow using the liner.

15. Using the angle brush and Snow White paint drifts over the dry brushed snow to brighten. Pick up Blueberry on the corner of the brush and shade under the snowman and sled by blending Blueberry into Snow White.

16. Using the toothbrush and Snow White, spatter over ball to create snow. Try a practice spatter first to determine if water needs to be added to the paint. However, too much water will make the paint run and the "snow" will become translucent.

17. To finish, spray with Americana Sealer.