This is a super easy painting tutorial for Halloween. Truly, it is.
Here are a few things you need to know before we get started –
- There are lots of photos. Lots.
- Painting instructions are written on each photo.
- You don’t have to read anything but the text on the photos.
- Because there are lots of photos. Lots.
- The photos are grouped into sections.
- If you just want to paint a witch’s hand – skip to that section.
- If you just want to paint a witch’s boot – skip to that section.
- There’s no witch hat because then we’d have to do a witch face.
- We’ll do a witch face later. Maybe.
- I lied when I said I was gonna make my posts shorter with less words and fewer photos.
- There are lots of photos. Lots.
- If you think you can’t paint, look at the pic below. It’s from one of my Twitter friends who followed my Pumpkin Tutorial.
I think she did an awesome job, don’t you? I swear, I’ve never met her, she hasn’t taken one of my classes. She just followed the tutorial and painted.
Cool, huh?
Now that I got that out of the way, here’s what you can learn if you follow all the steps –
Mini Tutorials
- folds in fabric
- wood grain
- ripples in water . . . or brew
- bubbles
- green fingers with purple finger nails
All paints are by Plaid, as usual.
- Papaya – basecoat
- Black
- White
- Fresh Foliage
- Pansy Purple
- Real Brown
- Folk Art Floating Medium
I highly recommend picking up some Floating Medium if you’re gonna be doing any painting at all for the holidays. I could write an entire post on the benefits of using it, and maybe I will one day.
Oh, btw I refer to Floating Medium as ‘glaze’ in the instructions.
If you want to add a little sparkle to your painting, I’ve included those steps to. I used Glitter Paint from Martha Stewart’s Decorative Paint line by Plaid.
Optional Paints
- Fluorite (purple) Glitter Paint
- Onyx (black) Glitter Paint
- Mint Chip (green) Pearl Paint
Ok! Let’s get started! (If you want the pattern, leave me a comment along with your email.)
Basecoat your canvas, wood, fabric or whatever with Papaya orange, allow to dry. Transfer pattern and basecoat elements as shown.
The Witch’s Skirt
You could just use gray paint but it’s more fun to mix white and black and get different shades each time.
The ‘wash’ – black + floating medium – will camouflage any weird lookin’ brush strokes. Apply one coat and let it dry. The highlights will peek thru after the glaze dries.
Witch’s Leg & Boot
‘Eyeball’ ‘em. It’s no big deal.
You’ll get more detail by mixing white + black. It doesn’t have to be thoroughly mixed – brushing the paint on will mix it even more.
Add Woodgrain to Spoon
Work in small sections until you get used to doing this. Wipe your brush on a paper towel or rinse after each swipe, otherwise you’ll just get muddy strokes.
Don’t make your strokes completely horizontal and perfect. Add some swerves, make some thicker, some thinner.
This woodgrain method works for all kinds of stuff, like an old wooden fence, if you want. One of these days will do some knots in wood too.
Witch’s Cauldron
Don’t freak out here. It will look like you’ve covered up all the highlighting. You haven’t. Let the glaze dry.
If you want more highlights after it’s dry, mix some black + white and add some glaze to it. It should blend easily onto your pot cauldron.
Just put the highlights on the ‘fat’ parts of the cauldron.
The Witch’s Hand
Don’t let this scare you. Just add some little lines for the knuckles. Once you add the fingernails, no one will notice the fingers.
See what I mean?
Witch’s Brew & Bubbles
Don’t worry about making them perfect. Bubbles come in all shapes, ok?
Now, do you want to add some sparkles? Yes, please.
- Fluorite (purple) Glitter Paint
- Onyx (black) Glitter Paint
- Mint Chip (green) Pearl Paint
That’s it!
But I’m thinkin’ it needs a greeting, or some wording of some kind . . .
Yes? No?
Originally I painted this just for a blog button . . .
If you have some ideas, let me know. I’ll probably use it as a button but then I’m thinking I’ll give the actual painting away.
What do you think? Do you think Painting Giveaways are a good idea?
Lord knows, I have stacks of them, just sitting ‘round.
Colleen
Cindy Winger says
Hi Colleen,
I love your tutorial of the Halloween witch from your September 11, 2011 post. Is it possible to still get the pattern? I’d really like to try to paint this!
Thank you,
Cindy
Colleen says
Hi Cindy, let me make one today. I just unpacked this canvas so I’ll trace the pattern, post it to Dropbox and then I’ll email you the link.
I’d love to see your painting, if you’d like to share.
Thanks so much! ~C
Liane Hajduk says
I’ve been looking for something to replace the vinyl decal of a witch flying on her broom that completely destroyed the paint on my wall last year. I think this is just the thing! Is it possible to still receive the pattern? You’re instructions are so detailed that I believe I can actually manage it.
Thanks,
Liane
Colleen says
Hi Liane, I just unpacked this painting so I’ll make a pattern today and email it to you. If you don’t mind sharing, I’d love to see her when you’ve finished.
Thanks so much!
~C
Gail H says
Found this on Pinterest. Absolutely Love it! Are your patterns still available? I’d love to paint this for my mantel.
Colleen says
Hi Gail, I just added the pattern to the post. You can right-click on the pattern, save it to your computer then print it off to the size you’d like. If you want larger than 8 x 10, you can take the file to an office supply place.
Thanks so much for asking! I’d love to see your painting, if you don’t mind sharing. Have fun!