1. How do I use blending medium?
Use this fabulous medium with FolkArt Acrylic Colors to blend like oil paints!
FolkArt Blending Gel Medium generously extends open time, making it easy to smoothly blend paints on both sealed and unsealed surfaces.

1. Apply Blending Gel Medium on the area of the design you're going to paint.

2. Double load your brush with your FolkArt Colors.

3. Be sure to use a generous amount of paint.

4. Blend colors together by stroking from the base out. If paint starts to dry, pick up more Blending Gel or paint on the brush.

**Helpful Hints**

* On unsealed surfaces, including raw and stained wood, the Blending Gel Medium soaks into the surface, keeping it wet longer and allowing more time to blend. Use generous amounts of paint to blend.

* On sealed surfaces, the medium will not soak the surface. Use a bit less Blending Gel Medium and blend slightly faster. Use generous amounts of paint to blend.

2. How do I use floating medium?
Floating is a method of shading and highlighting that will add dimension to your painting.

FolkArt Floating Medium is especially designed for this technique, and it's smooth gel formula won't run as water can. Try it to eliminate runs and drips!

1. Double load brush with paint color on one side and Floating Medium on the other. Blend on palette to merge and soften color.

2. Float the color on the surface according to pattern directions.

Floating medium is used so that you can flow smoothly with your paints on porous surfaces that are very dry, such as wood, drywall, etc. Load your brush with paint and tip the chisel edge of the brush into the Floating Medium and paint.

If you want a faded look, load your brush with Floating Medium and pick up a touch of color and paint.

Floating Medium is also great for shading. Load brush with Floating Medium then side load into color you wish to shade with.

3. How do I use glass and tile medium?
This wonderful medium gives "tooth" to slick surfaces to make painting easier.
Use it to increase the durability of paint on glass, tile and tin. Surfaces
can be hand washed and should be used for decorative purposes only.

1. Gently stir Glass & Tile Medium; do not shake. Place pattern under glass and apply Glass Medium only to area where design will be painted. Brush medium on with a synthetic flat brush and apply smooth, even coverage, ALLOW PIECE TO CURE FOR 48 HOURS.

2. Paint design. When paint has dried thoroughly, a protective coat of Glass Medium can be brushed onto painted surface for maximum durability. Allow project to cure for 2 weeks before hand washing.

4. How do I do watercolor shading?

1. Using a 3/4" (1.9 cm) flat brush side loaded with Butter Pecan, make a One Stroke scalloped edge leaf.

2. Lift to the chisel edge at the tip of the leaf.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for a cluster of three leaves.

4. Paint stems into each leaf with the chisel edge of the brush. I use this watercolor shading technique to subtle leaves and vines on the outside edges.

**TIP** 
You can also use FolkArt Floating Medium. It is great for shadowing. Load brush into color you wish to shadow with.

5. How do I do watercolor shadowing?

1. With your finished painted object you want to shadow on.

2. Side load a no. 12 flat brush with Maple Syrup and stroke along the lower edge of the painted object. Keep the Maple
Syrup corner of the brush next to your painting.

3. Create a shadow in the same manner underneath all the objects in your painting.

**TIP**
You can also use FolkArt Floating Medium. It is great for shadowing.
Load brush into color you wish to shadow with.

6. How do I load the brush correctly?
Pour enough paint to make at least a 1" (2.5 cm) puddle of each color you need.

1. Dip one corner of your brush into the first color.

2. Turn the brush over and dip the corner into the second color.

3. To full load the brush, stroke it back and forth on the palette.

4. Repeat this two or three times to load the bristles with paint two-thirds of the way up to the ferrule.

5. Now that your brush is loaded, pick up paint on each corner to begin painting.

Don't stroke the brush anymore on the palette. As you continue to work, load the paint only on the corners of the brush.

7. Can I use FolkArt paints on fabric, and will it wash out? Is there something I can use to help it stay on fabric better?

Yes, you can use FolkArt Textile Medium. Mix FolkArt Textile Medium with any FolkArt acrylic color to easily create permanent, washable painted effects on fabric. FokArt Textile Medium allows paint to penetrate fibers, so your painted design is soft, not stiff, and actually becomes part of the fabric.

8. I have a problem painting my leaves, do you have any tips?

1. Double load flat brush with two colors. I usually use Wicker White and Green
Forest. Starting on the chisel edge, push down on the bristles.

2. Now turn the green corner of the brush towards the tip of the leaf.

3. To bring the leaf to a point, lift the brush to its chisel edge.

4.To connect the leaves, pull the stem into the leaves to make a vine.

9. I am left handed, do you have any tips for us lefties?
What you should do is if you are working with a Reusable teaching guide is to
start where it indicates to end and end where it indicates to start or turn the
Reusable teaching guide upside down and the strokes will be easier to follow.

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