Painting Tip

	Use heavy weight double stick tape and stick the bottom of the egg to the lid of a small jar. This prevents them from rolling all over your table.
	Some of the small designs for the eggs may also be used to paint on other surfaces like this little teapot that I found at a garage sale.

About Pens

For many years, I used and recommended the Rotring Rapidoliner Pen because I like to ink the designs before painting and it set up so quickly in class when teaching. You could apply the color washes without spraying to seal the ink lines. Unfortunately it was discontinued some time ago. I now recommend the Koh-I-Noor pen. This is an expensive pen that requires cleaning and sometime new points. It is fine for someone who inks all the time but I don't recommend it for someone who only inks a project once in a while. Another option that works is the Koh-I-Noor Rapidosketch pen. It is less expensive than the Koh-I-Noor pen but you can't replace the points. Note: All the Koh-I-Noor technical pens, especially in smaller sizes, have a very delicate point so use a light touch when inking.

Most of the cheaper pens are labeled waterproof but they run when acrylic washes are applied. The Permawriter II dries so quickly and permanently that it is hard to remove a mistake and it doesn't come in as small a point as I would like. I always loved the Micron Pigma and it is fine to ink over a painting or ink first, spray and then paint, but I always preferred inking first and not spraying because washes are easier to apply. I am happy to tell you about a pen that worked well at a seminar when we waited to let it set up for about 10 minutes before painting. It is a Molotow Blackliner 0.05 mm. You do have to put the cap on tightly after using. There are many pens out there that I haven't used and others may work but many do no have small enough points.

Special Tips

Always seal wood and base area to be inked with several light coats of white acrylic. I usually apply at least four coats so if I have to correct a mistake, I won't wipe off my basecoat. Let the basecoat cure before transferring the pattern.

Use Blue Saral transfer paper because it is easier to ink over.

I dilute my colors on a StaWet palette, blot on a paper towel and then apply.

Keep washes light. Even after the painting is complete, you can glaze on more color if needed in certain areas. Always have a swab ready to blot the highlight area so you do not lose the transparent sparkle.

If second shading is stated, do not extend out as far as the first.

A + between colors means equal parts of both. Just pull a little color from each puddle of paint and brush mix on the palette, then dilute with water, blot and apply.

Tints of color are used to help balance color in a painting. I like to call it bouncing color. I remove most of my paint from my brush with a paper towel and then apply it very lightly. Tints should be very subtle and not jump out at you.

Always seal ink lines with an acrylic spray before applying a water-based varnish.

Ink with acrylic washes is a very easy technique. Many of my patterns have a lot of detail. This is not harder to do, but it is a little more time consuming.

You may enlarge patterns or portions of patterns and adapt them to other surfaces. Be creative and have fun painting!

Paint Color Conversion Chart - Click here to download