NIGHT

ESCAPE
by Tracy Meola

VE
SI
U
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 Night Escape
by Tracy Meola

PALETTE: Grey Sky #13111

DecoArt Acrylics Grey Storm #13561
Blue Harbor #13283 Lamp Black #13067
Cool White #13240 Paynes Grey #13167
Evergreen #13082 Primary Yellow #13201
True Red #13129

SURFACE:
Simple Sign Board #63196

MISC. SUPPLIES:
White Graphite paper #70139 Stylus #70125
Tracing Paper #83175 Satin Finish Varnish #87394
Multipurpose Sealer #87392

BRUSHES:
Papillon by the Artist’s Club ¾” Flat Wash 20102
#0 Script Liner 20140 3” Mini Sponge Roller #70599
#10 Filbert #20120 Loew Cornell
#10 Flat Shader 20130 ½” Mop brush LC275

PREPARATION:
Sand board, wipe off dust. Using the sponge roller apply a coat of Multipurpose Sealer. Let dry. While it dries,
trace the pattern onto tracing paper. Lightly sand to remove tooth and wipe off dust once more.

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PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS:
General Instructions: It is best to read through all the
instructions before you begin so you know what to ex-
pect. Basecoat each design element with the color list-
ed using the appropriate sized brush, unless otherwise
specified. All shading & highlighting is done using my
mopping technique – see separate mopping instruc-
tions. The mopping technique can also be substituted
with side-load floating or dry brush technique.
Color mixing is a great way to become familiar with
colors and how they work together. Basically I brush
mix the colors on the palette with the brush I am paint-
ing with, unless I need a large amount of color then I
will use a palette knife. Anywhere that you see a mix
with the numbers in parenthesis, it is the ratio for mix-
ing- for example (2:1) = 2 parts of the first color listed
to one part of the second color listed.
Let’s Begin – Basecoat the board with Grey Storm.
When dry begin adding another coat but about 1½
inches down from the top end cap change to work-
ing in Blue Harbor. Don’t wash your brush, just let the
Grey Storm transition into Blue Harbor. When you
are about ¾ of the way down the board, in the same
manor change to Paynes Grey and finish painting to
the bottom. If the paint is still wet about 3 inches down
from the top end cap, blend in some True Red (in the
area of where the jar top will go – refer to photo). If it is
already dry add the Red using the mopping technique.
Add a few more patches of subtle Red about 4 inches
up from the bottom end cap. (just above where the
grass will go – refer to photo.) Let dry.
Transfer the pattern for the jar, jar metal ring and lettering.
Jar metal cover ring – The metal ring is on the jar but
the disk that goes into the ring is missing which is why
the flies are able to escape. Paint the ring Grey Storm.
Add the darker values with Grey Storm + Paynes Grey
(1:2) These areas will be on the left side of the jar,
where the grooves in the ring are and the space be-
tween the gripping teeth. Also inside the top. Deepen
some of the darker areas with Grey Storm + Lamp
Black (2:1). Deepen the darkest areas by adding more
Black to the mix.
Add the lighter values with Grey Storm + Grey Sky
(1:1). These areas are on the right side of the metal ring,
above the screw on grooves and the gripping teeth
but only from the center over to the right on the teeth.
Lighten some of the areas by adding more Grey Sky to
the mix. With this color also paint in the top ring (that
would hold the disk of there were one). Evaluate if you
need more darks or lights and apply as needed.
Glass jar – Start by painting the lettering on the jar
using a liner brush with Grey Sky. Let dry. Make a wash
with Grey Sky and water. With a large flat brush, paint
this faint color over the jar glass, don’t get too light,
we will add more later. Let dry. Add dark values to the
glass using Blue Harbor + Paynes Grey (2:1). This will
create the ridges in the glass below the metal cover,
the circle on the bottom of the jar and the dark areas
on the sides of the jar. Deepen the darkest glass areas
by adding more Paynes Grey to the mix. Add a slight
wash of True Red to the ridges on the left, the upper
left side of the jar, the center right side of the jar and
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the bottom circle toward the back of the jar. Use Grey
Sky and create the ring on the bottom of the jar, lighten
the top ridges and add some streaks to the front of the
jar above and below the lettering.

Jar lettering – add a shadow to the letters on the right

side using a liner brush and a mix of Blue Harbor +
Paynes Grey (1:1). Highlight the letters with Grey Sky +
Cool White (1:2)

Fireflies – paint the bodies with Lamp Black using the

liner brush. Paint the light bulb with Primary Yellow
BUT put water on the board first so the bugs are blurry.
This is the most concentrated color but it still shouldn’t
be perfected lined, it should be blurry on the edges.
Once that is completely dry, put water down again in
a large area, paint a swipe of Primary Yellow and blend
it slightly with the mop brush. This will create the glow.
Don’t rush to the next step, let this dry completely.
Once dry, apply water to the board again and paint a
more concentrated area of Yellow right near the bug
bulb and lightly mop it out just a bit. You should end
up with the round yellow area of the bug, then a bright
area of glow and a larger softer area of glow. If you
covered the lettering with yellow go back and add the
light grey back to it because the bugs near the letter-
ing are still inside the jar.

Grass – make a Dark green mix with Evergreen +

Lamp Black (3:1) and mop this color into the area
where the grass will go and even further out toward
the sides of the board. Use the liner brush and paint
strokes for blades of grass with Evergreen. Add more
grass blades with the Dark green mix. Mix Evergreen +
Grey Sky (3:1) and add more grass blades. Mix Ev-
ergreen + Primary Yellow (1:1) and go over the grass
blades where the light is hitting the hitting the grass.
Add more Primary Yellow to the mix and go over
again in the lightest areas.

Evaluate your painting to see if you want to darken or

lighten any areas. Sign your artwork.

FINISHING
Let your painting rest for 24 hours. Finish with 2 – 3
coats of Water Based Varnish in either Satin or Matte.

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 To ensure your
Pattern at 100% pattern is at 100%,
this box should
1” x 1”
measure 1” x 1”
when printed.

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 Copyright 2017 by Tracy Meola and Crafts Americana Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. #332247

No. *A332247*
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