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Did you know?
       "You can also paint the lead in
        solid sections. Let dry. Then use
        the scrubbing-out technique."

 

 
Home  Projects to Paint  Stained Glass Irises  Steps 1-5  Steps 6-8

    Illustration of the background and lead design

Stained Glass Irises -  Steps 6 through 8
  • Paint the inside areas of the background
  • Paint the outside areas of the background
  • Paint the lead outline
  • Tutorial on how to paint the lead
  • Guideline image for painting the lead and background

For the final steps of your project, you will be painting all the inside and outside areas of the background and the lead design.

If you are familiar with watercolor, feel free to begin painting all of the background areas. If you are new to watercolor, trace a few sections of the inside and outside areas of the background onto your scrap pieces of 300 lb. watercolor paper. Once you feel pleased with your results, continue
on to Step 6.

For painting the lead design, I recommend that all levels of watercolor experience practice this technique on scrap pieces of paper first. It may take a few attempts, but afterwards you will be glad that you practiced.

Paint the Background and the Lead
 
Step 6

Paint the inside areas
of the background.
close-up of tissue blotting after painting an inside area of the background
  
demonstration of tissue blotting after painting an inside area of the background
Mix color

[  8  ]
  
  Fully load your clean watercolor brush with [  8  ] and paint one of the solid yellow areas as shown in the photograph. When the sheen is almost gone, lightly blot the area with a tissue to create texture.

Let dry.

Continue painting in the same manner until all the inside areas have been painted.

 
Step 7

Paint the outside areas
of the background.
close-up of a watercolor brush painting an outside area of the background
  
demonstration of painting an outside area of the background
Mix color

[  8  ]
  Paint all the outside areas next, starting with the lower left side. Fully load your clean watercolor brush with clean water, and really wet the entire area, stopping about 1/2" (1.3cm) away from the lead line. Rinse out your brush and blot well.

While the water still has lots of sheen, fully load your watercolor brush with [  8  ], and paint along the lead line and outwards toward the water, allowing [  8  ] to charge into the water.

Continue to paint along the lead line with [  8  ] until that entire section has been painted. When the sheen is almost gone, lightly blot with a tissue. Let dry. Continue to paint in the same manner until all the outside areas have been painted.
personal note  Rotating your board clockwise (counterclockwise if you are left-handed) as you paint the outside areas will make the painting process much easier, as well as avoid having to reach over your painting.

 
Step 8

Paint the lead.
close-up of a watercolor brush painting the lead design
  
demonstration of painting the lead design
Mix color

[  9  ]
  Paint all the sections of lead around the irises first, and then the leaves, following the directions given in the "How to Paint the Lead" example. Let each section dry completely before painting the next section.

For best results - Use very short, bouncing brush strokes as you move your clean moist brush down the center of the lead. Make sure your brush strokes over lap one another as shown in the example. This motion will release enough water to push the color to the sides. While you are painting the lead, rotate your board so that you are always painting toward yourself.

How to Paint the Lead  -  Tutorial
       
Tip of brush
 Very quick motion  
A detailed illustration showing step-by-step how to paint the lead design
Paint about a half-inch (1.3cm) length of color [ 9 ].
Quickly take a separate clean moist brush and move down the center of the lead, following the pattern of brush strokes shown.
Press brush down here and lift.
Continue to press brush down and lift.
Quickly rinse your brush and blot well. Lightly go down the center of the lead again to highlight.
Always keep this edge moist so you do not get a hard line.

Diagram for lead and background
 


Follow this example
when painting the background
and the lead.
image showing only the painted areas of the background and lead
    


NEXT:   Stained Glass Irises - Critique   
 
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