Painting Angels
Create original, decorative angels to hang as wall art or send as one-of-a-kind greeting cards. By using a few simple painting techniques on wood, tin or paper, you can embellish your angel with a patina of rust or age --- or turn an image of your little real-life angel into a treasured memento.
Painting Angels on Tin
Make folk art angels by adding a little "rust" to your art work. Sprinkle dried cinnamon over wet paint on a tin angel or an angel painted on a metal plaque or sign. If it doesn't look rusty enough as the paint dries, sprinkle on a bit more cinnamon. You can spray it with matte finish to protect it after it dries. Punch two holes through the top of the tin with a nail and hammer, and thread the sign or angel shape with brown twine, raffia or a faded silk ribbon to hang.
Painted Angels on Wood
One way to give your wooden painted angels an antique look is by crackling the paint. Start with a coat of primer to seal the wood and prevent eventual paint discoloration. Draw or trace the angel and paint its hair, wings and robe with a medium-dark or dark color. Let dry for 24 hours. Paint the colored areas with crackle glaze that you can purchase at an art supply store. Apply the glaze in single strokes, one direction only, and let it dry for an hour. Now use the colors you want for the hair, wings and robe and paint over the partially set crackle glaze in the other direction. The top coat will crack as it dries, showing the darker color beneath, like an old weathered piece of wood.
Turning a Favorite Photograph into an Angel Card
Make a personal angel card for a holiday or special occasion. Select a photograph of a child in your family in which the child's shoulders are evenly facing forward. (This will make it easier to paint the wings.) Cut out the photograph and position it on a blank greeting card form to see where the wings will fit. If you want to wash some watercolor over the background of the card, let it dry completely before continuing.
To make the wings:
Draw or trace a large angel wing and cut it out. Place the wing on the fold of a folded piece of watercolor paper. Cut two wings, leaving them attached at the fold. Paint the wings very pale lavender or gray and let them dry. Once dry, blotch white paint over the wings with a dry brush to create a fluffy texture. Edge the wings with gold paint or lavender paint.
To create an angel:
When the wings are dry, glue them to the card with a glue stick or spray adhesive. Position the photograph on top of the wings to make the angel and glue photograph to the card. Dry thoroughly under a heavy book to flatten. Finish with a handwritten message inside.
