"3 Votive Candle Block"
by Yvonne Reeder
Via Von ~ Come Paint With Me!
Victorian Via Von © 2005

All Rights Reserved

Line Drawing

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This pattern was designed for beginners (either self-teaching or via classroom) as a fun way to assist with learning basic stroke work and sponging/stippling techniques.

The supplies you will need to complete this project include the following:

Surface:

Candle Block 3 Votive

Brushes:

#1 Robert Simmons E51 Liner

#2 Robert Simmons E51 Liner

Loew Cornell Double Time Brush 251-6/2 (you may substitute this brush step with the RSE51 #2 Liner and a #6 Robert Simmons E60 Flat Shader)

Sea Sponge or very large Stippler/Scruffy Brush

Deco Art Americana Acrylic Paints:

French Vanilla

Antique Gold

Light Buttermilk

Honey Brown

Additional Supplies:

Fini

Final Coat Varnish Low Gloss

Final Coat Varnish Semi Gloss

Sanding Paper - 200 and 600 grit

Tack Cloth

Pencil

Dark Tracing Paper

Refer to the photos provided to help you along the way.

Basic Instructions

Prepare your piece by sanding the bare wood with the #200 grit sandpaper, removing any burrs or bits and rough edges.  Remove the dust with your Tack Cloth

Seal your wood piece with a 50/50 percent mix of Final Coat Low Gloss and French Vanilla.  Repeat this step one more time with a 75/25 mix of 75% French Vanilla and 25% Final Coat Low Gloss.

Sand gently with the #600 grit paper and remove any dust with your Tack Cloth.

Using your sponge or very large stippler/scruffy brush, double-load the sponge or brush with Antique Gold and Light Buttermilk.  Gently tap the sponge or brush to the surface, covering it lightly all over.  Be sure to move your hand around clockwise and counter-clockwise so that you do not paint a "pattern" of the shape from the sponge or brush or get too much of one colour in one place.

Let this stage thoroughly dry which may take up to 10 hours depending on temperature and humidity.

You will use your Loew Cornell Double-Time 251- 6/2 brush for the banding stripes at the bottom.  This stage may be done instead with the Robert Simmons E51 #2 Liner and a #6 Robert Simmons E60 Flat Shader.

You will use the Robert Simmons E51 #2 Liner for all of the decorative design detailing and shading.

Take a few moments as needed along the way to allow your piece to dry before moving onto the next step.

Lets Begin!

Load the wide brush of your Loew Cornell Double-Time 251-6/2 with Antique Gold and load the smaller brush half with French Vanilla and paint the banding stripes.  Place the Antique Gold half on the bottom edge of the candle block piece and use that edge as your guide for the stripe's natural placement.   Let dry.  Repeat this step one or more times as needed for full and complete coverage on all sides of your candle block.

Lay the tracing paper and pattern on the wood piece.  With your pencil, copy the pattern's outlines to transfer it to your wood piece.  On the ends of your candle block, use the same top arch's pattern but extend the center part manually to fit the span of your candle block.

Paint all of the decorative detail on all four sides with your Robert Simmons E51 #2 Liner and Light Buttermilk.  Repeat this step as necessary for full and complete coverage.

Paint all of the candle block's top detail comma strokes in all four corners and the two S-strokes on each side of the center votive cut with your Robert Simmons E51 #2 Liner and Honey Brown.   When that has dried fully, repeat this step with your Robert Simmons E51 #1 Liner and Light Buttermilk staying within the center of each previous stroke work done with the Honey Brown.  This is the easiest way to create a drop-shadow effect for this section of your design.

To create the drop-shadow underneath your decorative details on all four sides prepare a mixture of 50/50% Fini and Honey Brown to an inky consistency.  (You may use water for this stage however water will dilute the strength of the paint which will require you to repeat this paint step to obtain the look you need.)  With a full brush load of the inky paint on your Robert Simmons E51 #1 Liner lightly paint thin lines on the undersides of all of your decorative detailing including the light buttermilk band at the bottom.  See the close-up photo for visual reference.

Sign your work!

When your piece is thoroughly dry, erase any visible tracing paper.  Then, protect and finish your piece with several coats of Final Coat, following the instructions provided on the bottle's label.

Place the glass votives back in your candle block and enjoy your beautiful piece!

 

That's IT -- you're DONE!

This project is available for personal and teaching use only and may be painted for fun or personal profit for craft shows.  The painter or teacher may enlarge or reduce one photocopy for personal/student use only. Any other Business/Commercial use of any portion is prohibited. Reproduction or mass marketing by any means including mechanical or electronic is prohibited unless written authorization is obtained from Via Von.