DECORATIVE CUTTING BOARD

Decorative Cutting

Board This unique design was inspired by my admiration of Mandala and geometric art. Made up of two elements, the first is a small full flower design which is surrounded by the second element, a large garland with only half of it in sight. The elements are subtly separated by a circle of rings, allowing the woodgrain background to show through them.

By Effie Carayannis

I’m a passionate artist and designer, living in Melbourne, Australia. I specialize in decorative painting, fine art, and mixed media. Creativity has given me a means to escape, fulfilling my days with fun, happiness and relaxation. It continues to pull me into a whirlpool of color. I’ve shared my love of art over many years through numerous publications in Australian and international art and craft magazines. I teach at conventions and have conducted decorative painting classes in the community and at major craft shows.

SUPPLIES

SURFACE:

Crofton- Acacia Wood Board. Approximate size 21.5 Inch x 10 Inch (Measurements include handle) Any wood cutting board is suitable of similar dimensions.

DecoArt® AMERICANA ACRYLIC PAINTS:

• Wild Berry- DA362 • Blush Pink- DA355 • Alizarin Crimson- DA179 • Lamp Black- DA067 • Electric Pink- DA231 • Warm White- DA239 • Shoreline- DA365 • Desert Turquoise- DA044 • Deep Midnight Blue- DA166 • Cool White- DA240 • Dark Plum DA172

OTHER DECOART® PRODUCTS:

• Americana Gel Stains Oak- DS30-3 • Glazing Medium- DS18-3 • DecoArt® Americana Matte Spray

Sealer- DAS13-7

BRUSHES BY LOEW CORNELL®:

• Americana Painters Series 1” inch Glaze/Wash • Golden Taklon #10/0 Liner

Brush- LC7350-10/0 • Golden Taklon ¼ Inch Angular

Shader- LC7400-1/4 • Golden Taklon ½ Inch Angular

Shader- LC7400-1/2 • Golden Taklon #2 Ultra Round

Brush- LC7020-2 • Golden Taklon #4 Ultra Round

Brush-LC7020-4 • Golden Taklon #4 Filbert- LC7500-4

MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES:

• Fine grit sanding pad or sandpaper • Medium grit sanding pad or sandpaper (if required) • Dry cloth • Clean lint free cloth • Paper towels • White Transfer paper • Stylus • Water bin • Ruler • Eraser • Tracing paper

Tip: The piece is designed for decorative purposes only. Using it as a functional cutting/chopping board will damage the surface. Feel free to change the colors to suit your décor.

PREPARATION:

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

If you are using a store bought “ready for use” cutting board like I did, you will need to sand it using a fine grit sandpaper to remove its previous finish. A “pre-loved” wood board would require a medium grit sandpaper to remove any deep scratching and wear from use; then follow with a fine grit sandpaper for a smooth finish. Sand the surface until smooth. Then wipe the surface with a dry cloth to remove the sanding dust. Apply a coat of Gel Stain using the 1-inch base coating brush, in the same direction of the grain. Then, wipe back with a clean lint free cloth, allow it to dry then re-apply the stain as before and wipe back again with the same cloth. Apply a coat of Glazing Medium, this will protect the background from mistakes and accidental splashes while painting the design.

TRANSFERRING:

Trace the pattern onto tracing paper, then, transfer the major outlines using the transfer paper and stylus. The remaining detail will be transferred later as you move through the pattern.

PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS:

The brushes listed and mentioned throughout the instructions are only a guide; they are what I use and what work best for me. When painting the design, use the brush that you are most comfortable with and best fits the area you are painting. Always allow drying time between coats.

SMALL FULL FLOWER DESIGN: Helpful Tips:

Tip 1: Begin painting the petals within the furthest section of the design, then move inwards to the next section of petals. Paint the blue flower next, leaving the center of the design until last. Tip 2: If you feel more comfortable base coating all the elements before you begin adding their detail, then do so. Work with the system that feels best for you. Base the narrow-elongated petals with a couple of coats of Wild Berry, using the #2 round brush. Add the highlight in the center, by placing a comma stroke with Blush Pink. Float to shade with Alizarin Crimson, side loaded on the ¼ inch angular shader. Then, deepen the shade with Alizarin Crimson + Black Plum (3:1). Add a small amount of watery Black Plum to the brush to deepen the shade a little more. Subsequently, transfer (or freehand) the crosshatch detail from the tracing paper, then paint it with the liner loaded with Lamp Black and let it dry. Float to highlight with Electric Pink, side loaded on the ¼ inch angular shader. Then, strengthen the highlight with Blush Pink. Base the broad pink petals using the #4 filbert with Blush Pink, to a solid coverage. Float to shade with Wild Berry, side loaded on the ¼ inch angular shader. Then, deepen the shade with Alizarin Crimson. Add a little watery Black Plum to the dirty brush and deepen the shade once more. Float to highlight with Warm White, side loaded on the same clean brush. Then, strengthen the highlights with the same color. Next, paint the smaller pink petals in the section beforehand (moving inwards again) by following the same instructions. Base the blue flower petals with the #2 round brush, loaded with Warm White, to a solid coverage. Float to shade with Shoreline side loaded on the ¼ inch angular shader. Then, deepen the shade with Desert Turquoise. Deepen the shade once more, with Deep Midnight Blue. Float to highlight with Cool White, side loaded on the same clean brush. Base the circle in the center with Cool White to a solid coverage. Transfer or freehand using a ruler to divide the circle into six equal sections, then paint each alternating section with the #2 round brush loaded with Lamp Black and let it dry. If required apply a couple more coats to a solid coverage. Fig 1

FIG 1

LARGE GARLAND: Helpful Tips:

Begin painting the large “tulip shaped” petals within the furthest section of the design. Then move inwards and paint the pink petals in the following section. Next, paint the blue elongated oblong detail, followed by the black and white leaf like design. The section combining the two elements will be left until last. Base the large “tulip shaped” petals with Wild Berry, using the #4 round brush to a solid coverage. Transfer the remaining details from the tracing paper onto the “tulip shaped” petals, and then base the pink oblong shape with several coats of Blush Pink to a solid coverage. Paint the crosshatching with the liner, loaded with Lamp Black and let it dry. Float to shade with Alizarin Crimson, side loaded on the ¼ inch angular shader. Then, deepen the shade with Alizarin Crimson + Black Plum (3:1). Using the same mix loaded on a small round brush, paint the small section at the base of each petal. Add a small amount of watery Black Plum to the ¼ inch angular shader to deepen the shade a little more. Float to highlight with Electric Pink, side loaded on the ¼ inch angular shader. Then strengthen the highlight with Blush Pink. You may need to touch up some of the crosshatching after the shading and highlighting is completed. Fig 2

FIG 2

Next, base the pink petals in the section beforehand (moving inwards again), using the #4 filbert with Blush Pink, to a solid coverage. Float to shade with Wild Berry, side loaded on the ¼ inch angular shader. Then, deepen the shade with Alizarin Crimson. Deepen the shade once again with Alizarin Crimson + Black Plum (3:1). Add a little watery Black Plum to the dirty brush to add a final shade. Float to highlight with Warm White, side loaded on the same clean brush. Then, strengthen the highlights with the same color. Base the blue oblong shaped areas with the #4 round brush, using Shoreline, to a solid coverage. Base the leaf shaped design, with Cool White, to a solid coverage. Transfer the remaining details from the tracing paper, and then paint each alternating section (refer to the picture for placement) with a couple of coats of Lamp Black, using the #2 round brush. The finer detail is painted with the liner. Fig 3

FIG 3

Fill in the section between the leaf shaped design and the outer segment of the rings (moving inwards again) with the #2 round brush, using Desert Turquoise. The segment where the rings

FIG 4

adjoin with the small full flower is painted with Deep Midnight Blue. Using the same brush, pick up a small amount of Desert Turquoise and Deep Midnight Blue simultaneously; blend the colors a little on your palette and lightly dry brush the area where the colors intersect around the rings to create a smooth transition. The enclosed area of the circles is left unpainted, exposing the woodgrain finish in the background. Fig 4

EDGE:

Carefully paint the edge around the board with a couple of coats of Shoreline + Cool White (1:1). Fig 5

FINISHING:

Float to shade around the outside of the large garland with the ½ inch angular shader, side loaded with the gel stain. This will give the design a sharper finish. Side load the ¼ inch angular shader with the stain and float around the inside of the rings to enhance the woodgrain in the background. When dry, erase any transfer lines, then apply several light coats of Matte Spray Sealer, allowing drying time between coats.

FIG 5

Enlarge 200% to full size or to fit the surface you choose.

Note to reproduction companies/stores: The bearer of the original color magazine has full rights to have this drawing reproduced and enlarged one time for personal use. This notice has been printed in red ink for verification of authenticity.

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