Spring is on its way, so although we aren’t quite into strawberry season where I live, I thought it would still be nice to work on a design which foretells the warmth we have to look forward to this summer.
Materials
• Paradise light blue
• TAG pearl white
• Diamond FX white
• Paradise red
• Global red
• Global orange
• TAG or Global yellow
• Paradise light green
• Paradise dark green
• Paradise Amazon green
• Paradise lime green
• Paradise dark brown
• Small filbert brush
• #5 round brush
• #2 round brush
• #1 round brush
Tutorial
Begin by sponging a light background color over the eye and temple area. I used a light blue mixed with a pearl white, but later I wished I had tried a pale green instead. Experiment with this to see what works best for you.
Use a #5 round or a small filbert brush to create the leaf shapes. Begin by loading your brush with Paradise light green and using Paradise dark green for areas of shadow. Remember that strawberry leaves are jagged, so don’t make the edges smooth.
After the first coat dries, brighten the leaves by adding a layer of Paradise lime green and Amazon green.
For the veining on the leaves, I used the lime green mixed with some white for the light veins. Create dark veins with the Paradise dark green, staying on the tip of your #1 round brush.
To create the basic strawberry shape, mix some Paradise red, which is a very deep red, and Global red, which is a lighter, warmer red. I chose the right for my light source, so to create the darker shadows on the left, I added some dark brown to the red. On the lighter right side, I used a little Global orange to lighten the red. (If you use white, you’ll end up with pink, so it’s better to lighten with yellow or orange.)
To make the seeds on the berries, mix some Diamond FX white and TAG yellow. To keep the seeds from being too prominent, dab them with your finger tip after painting them on the berries, just to lift some of the paint and soften them.
For the white highlights, you’ll have to wait until the red on the strawberries is entirely dry. Use you #1 round brush well-loaded with a Diamond FX white. Just on the area of the berry which would get direct light, you’re going to lightly add some pure white around the seed indentations. (Notice the berry which is behind the others is darker and has no glistening white portion because it’s partially hidden from the direct light source.)
Using your #2 round brush, add some dark green swirls, followed by some light green swirls (lime green mixed with white).
Finally, add some starbursts and dots to give it a little sparkle, and enjoy your summer berries.
Beth MacKinney is the owner of and primary face painter for Face Paint Pizzazz in the NW Chicago suburbs. She also writes blog posts for Facepaint.com and articles for Examiner.com as the Chicago Face Painting Examiner.