How to blend paint colours

Blending colour is the ideal way to soften the edges between light and dark colours without needing to paint multiple intermediate colours. The best softening or blending brushes are made from badger hair, but are very expensive. Round-ended blusher brushes or shaving brushes work well and are a cheaper alternative. For this project where there is only a small area of blended colour, a soft, worn stencil brush was used.

You will need:
Blending brush
Brush for applying basecoats
Glue for attaching shells
Plate
Acrylic craft paint - metallic gold
Acrylic craft paint - 3 colours
Shells
Small brush for applying

Here's how:
1. Apply one or two coats of the base colour to the base and bowl area of the dish and allow to dry. Apply the second colour to the rim.

2. While the base colour is still wet, use the blending brush and a pouncing motion, to soften the edges of the colour. Wipe any excess paint off the brush onto paper as you go.

3. Add the third colour to the centre of the dish and blend into the base colour.

4. Apply gold to the rim of the dish with either a brush or your finger. By using a small amount of paint on your finger and lightly rubbing along the rim, you can more easily control the amount you apply to create a soft glow rather than a hard line.

  source: resene