Sip into Fall: Create Your Own Gnome Painting Tutorial

Get Ready for a Cozy September

The leaves are starting to change, the air is getting crisper, and that means it’s time to embrace the beauty of fall! One of the most delightful ways to get into the spirit of the season is by joining our September Paint & Sip tutorial. This month, we will be painting an adorable gnome holding a warm cup of coffee. So, grab your supplies and let's cozy up for some creative fun! The video instructions are at the bottom!

What You’ll Need to Join the Fun

Before we dive into our gnome adventure, ensure you've gathered all your painting supplies. Here’s what you’ll need:

• an 11x14 canvas

• push pins

• paper towels

• paper plates

• hair dryer

• cup for water

• acrylic paints- mars black, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw umber, warm grey, light pink and rose pink

• paint brushes- #3 & 8 Fan Brushes, #4 & 10 Flat brushes, 1/4" dagger

• acrylic markers- white & black

  And don't forget your favorite beverage to sip on as you paint! If you’d like to add an extra touch, consider having a cute pumpkin or some fall foliage around to set the mood.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Your Gnome

Now that you’re all set up, let’s get started on our gnome masterpiece. We'll do the background first using the raw umber, warm grey and yellow ochre. Grab your largest flat brush and begin by using the darkest color first. Remember, use water to thin out and don't forget the sides. We'll work very quickly on this part to not let the paint dry. Next, grab your largest fan brush and begin blending in the warm grey (it's really tan) and bits of the yellow ochre. At the very end, we'll use the sides of the fan brush to create the boards using the black paint.

Use the hair dryer to thoroughly dry this part.

Next we'll sketch in the gnome. I started with the feet. At first I used a pencil and that didn't show up on the dark colors. So I switched to an acrylic marker. Don't worry, we'll be covering it all up with paint. Next do the cup, his hands, the nose and the outline of the hat. The video really helps with this step!

I found it to work best by painting in the hat first using the warm grey, just a bit of the raw umber, white and some of the yellow ochre. Again, I like to keep my paint wet and blend verses letting each color dry. Next, went down to the feet, the hands, the cup and the nose. At this point we're just getting the colors in and not worrying about the details!

And lastly, we painted in the beard and mustache. I found it worked best to use the flat brush and outline the beginnings of the hair with the black, then while it's still wet, grab your smaller fan brush and start creating the whiskers with the white. I started with the beard, then worked into the mustache.

Feel free to experiment with shades and patterns, making your gnome truly unique. Whether you choose the fall themed colors of the browns or add in oranges and golds, really make this yours!

The final steps are to create more shading, highlights and final details. Make sure all the paint is dry before beginning this step. I had the light coming from the right side, so I considered how that will look on the gnome and his hat. We also lay in the highlights on the piece of wood that he is sitting on.

I let everything dry when I was satisfied with the final look and then used acrylic markers to add in the words. I find these much easier to work with for lettering.

Lastly, remember that the joy of painting comes from expressing yourself. Forget about the rules and let your creativity flow. Share a smile, laugh at those 'happy accidents,' and most importantly, enjoy every brushstroke. When your painting is complete, take a step back and admire your cozy gnome. Who knew sipping coffee while painting could be so delightful?

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your brushes, pour yourself a coffee (or a pumpkin spice latte), and let’s make some fall magic together. We can’t wait to see your interpretations of our September Paint & Sip gnome!