Painting ornaments

When Aaron was a baby, 

I started painting him a Christmas ornament each year 

which I stopped the year he turned ten.

I then started the tradition for my Granddaughters, 

Mikayla who is now three 

and Madelyn who turned one last month. 

For Madelyn this year, 

we decided on a Santa. 

For Mikayla, 

a snowman. 

I started with some rough sketches.

After sketching directly onto the ornament, 

I did some blocking in. 

Here's a hot tip - 

Red can be a fairly transparent colour and therefore 

difficult to get a nice, solid block of colour. 

I use orange paint in my first couple of layers 

as it blocks in quite nicely. 

Then I paint with red over the top. 

Works like a charm!

The back of the ornament.

I also paint up a matching gift box each year.
I keep the gift boxes very simple
as time doesn't always allow me to be fancy.
I always say I'll paint the ornaments and gift boxes
in June or July but it never happens.
Maybe next year...

I was so eager to finish Mikayla's ornie 

that I completely forgot to take 

step-by-step photos, sorry.

Google Plus added snow for me!

If you're interested in seeing Mikayla's and Madelyn's

Christmas ornaments from previous years 

check out the following links -

2012

2011 step-by-step

2011 finished ornament

2010

Now, I can get back to varnishing 

the multi-canvas I painted for Reece. 

Busy, busy.....

Does this count for Sunday Sketches, I wonder?
I did sketch the ornament designs.