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How to Paint a Spring Gnome

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How to Paint a Spring Gnome
How to Paint a Spring Gnome

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How to Paint a Spring Gnome
An 8″ square canvas, a 6″ terra cotta flower pot, and a 3″ mini canvas were all part of my spring gnome painting project.
6″ Spring Gnome Flower Pot
3″ Spring Gnome Mini Canvas. This is the perfect size for a window, desk, or shelf.
The 8″ square Spring Gnome is ready to hang and painted on gallery wrapped canvas.

Are you ready for spring? I sure am. I can’t wait to throw open the windows, spend sunny mornings drinking coffee on my porch, and adorn my house with spring gnomes. I’ve been using the gnome theme ever since Christmas. We had a Christmas gnome tree with all the trimmings and Valentine’s Day gnome decor after that. Gnomes and spring go together like baseball and hot dogs. Spring will be the best gnome season yet!

The Valentine’s Day gnome mug was a Christmas present.
Our twenty-year old bought the Rae Dunn Be Mine Gnome, then I found several garlands in the same pattern to hang on the stairs and mantle.
My Toadstools with a Snail Acrylic Painting hangs in our dining room and goes perfectly with gnomes.
our three younger girls in front of the gnome Christmas tree

After seeing all of my gnome decor, are you ready to learn How to Paint a Spring Gnome? Let’s start with the supplies. Below is a picture of the paints, brushes, and other materials I used. The ruler, graphite paper, and pencil are listed but not pictured below.

supplies for How to Paint a Spring Gnome
This pattern is owned by Love my Little Cottage and is included for your personal use only- not for commercial use or sharing in other places on the internet. You can print a copy with the link in the supply list below.
  • 8″ canvas, 3″ canvas with easel, 6″ terra cotta flower pot and tray
  • brushes- 1/4″ angle, 1/8″ flat, liner – Add a 2″ foam brush to this list if you want to seal your projects with acrylic varnish after you finish.
  • artist quality paints- Aquamarine Blue, Silver, Magenta, Carmine Red, Raw Sienna, Complexion Pink, Aqua, Titanium White, Dark Green, Primary Yellow, Purple Iris, Sublime Lime, Berry Neon Glitterific, and Gloss Medium
  • Liquitex Satin Varnish- if desired
  • spring gnome pattern-print mine here
  • graphite paper for transferring the pattern
  • a pencil or similiar object for tracing
  • a ruler

How to Paint a Spring Gnome

Make a mark in the center of your project. Align the center of your pattern with this mark. Place the graphite paper between your project and the pattern. Trace with a pencil or similiar object.
The canvas is ready for painting.

First I sketched my pattern, then scanned it into my computer. Then, I printed the picture in 8″ x 10,” 4″ x 6,” and 2″ x 3.” Use the 8×10 for the 8″ canvas, the 4×6 for the flower pot, and the 2×3 for the 3″ canvas. It’s a good idea to create a pattern before you paint, so that it will be easy to create a symmetrically balanced painting.

Align the center of the pattern with the center of the canvas. Then, place your graphite paper in between the pattern and the canvas and trace.

Time to Paint!

Use Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White, and the 1/4″ angle for the hat. I used darker shades of Ultramarine on the left side and a lighter mix on the right side.
A mixture of Silver and Titanium White was mixed then applied with the 1/4″ angle.
Paint the toadstools with several layers of Magenta. Next, use the 1/8″ flat for the larger areas and the liner for the spots, highlighting, and shading.
Shade the toadstools with Carmine Red, then highlight with Titanium White. Afterwards, swish in the shoes with Aqua and the 1/8″ flat. Shade with Aquamarine and highlight with Titanium White using the same brush.
Base the hands and nose with Complexion Pink and the liner brush.

Just a Few More details

Paint the flower in the center with Primary Yellow and the liner brush.
Use the liner brush to shade the hands with Raw Sienna, the nose with Carmine Red shading and a touch of Titanium White highlights. Next, shade the flower with Carmine Red and highlight with Titanium White using the same brush. Then, add a stem with Sublime Lime and a Dark Green shade line. Add a few Purple Iris + Gloss Medium strokes in the background. The Gloss medium will keep the paint wet until we get to the next background step.

Add the Finishing Touches

Sign your project with the liner brush and Purple Iris. Mix Purple Iris, Titanium White and the Gloss Medium to create the background. Have fun with it! Since my light source was coming from the right, I shaded the left side pretty heavily with the darker Purple Iris blend using the 1/4″ angle.

And don’t forget to add a little bling to the hat with the 1/8″ flat and a generous helping of Berry Neon Glitterific.

Add a few coats of Liquitex Satin Varnish with a 2″ foam brush if you want to preserve your project for more than one season. You’re all done! I hope you enjoyed How to Paint a Spring Gnome.
How to Paint a Spring Gnome

Blessings,

Kristie

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Comments

  2. Cathy Kennedy says

    Kristie,

    Very cute spring gnome! 🙂 One of these days I’m going to try to paint but for now I’ll stick with using my digital art sketch iPad app, Procreate. I just love it because nothing is permanent, I can do it over and over until I get the right results. That sounds like cheating but it’s actually a wonderful way to hon your artistic side or at least I think so. Have a good week!

    Reply

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