Use SoSoft® Fabric Paint to create a set of veggie-inspired hand-painted tea towels, starting with 'A' for Asparagus.

SUPPLIES

• water container
• palette or plastic plate
• paper towels
• 1" painter's tape
• tea towel
• #1 and #2 round brushes
• Derwent Watercolor Pencil Grass Green
• Jennifer Rizzo alphabet classic letter stencil
• asparagus spear, fresh

INSTRUCTIONS

NOTES:

To protect the towel from paint seeping through, place a piece of cardboard or wax paper under the area to be painted.

1. Prewash and dry the towel. Do not use fabric softener. Using painter's tape, tape an approximately 8" x 8" square in the lower third of the towel in the center. Transfer the pattern in one of several ways: Use a watercolor pencil to sketch the asparagus design and letter, use the template provided as a stencil, or place the printed pattern underneath as a guide. Watercolor pencil will wash out of the fabric later.

2. When the design is sketched on the towel, gather the SoSoft paint colors listed in the supplies. If needed, use a real piece of asparagus for a rough color guide and for reference, though this could change your color choices slightly. Start with the front stalk, on the right.

3. Start by working up from the base with color. Using the #1 round brush, paint with SoSoft in Lavender, adding Buttermilk, and then painting with Green Apple and Avocado as you move up the stem.

4. Paint the asparagus stem, adding highlights and shadows as needed using Christmas Green and Dark Rose.

5. When painting the asparagus tips, use a #2 round brush to lay down a layer of Christmas Green first, and then paint over with lighter colors to give the illusion of depth, working up to Buttermilk. After finishing the first stalk, let dry (about 20 minutes) and then add the second stalk using the same techniques. While the paint is still wet, blend highlights using Buttermilk along the top of the stalk tip and stem.

6. Using the #2 brush, add characteristics such as bumps and scales on the side and top of the stalks. Mixing (1) part Lavender and (1) part Avocado works well for scales.

7. After the asparagus is complete, use Lavender or another color of your choice to paint in the outline of the letter using the #2 round brush.

8. Once dry, go back and add any darker shading or bright highlights if needed to add depth to the asparagus.

9. Remove the tape promptly.

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