The Tulips are Coming.....

The simple, colorful, regal Tulip may just be my favorite flower. They are so sleek and smooth. I love the long elegant petals and the stately leaves. Mostly, I love that they hide in the ground all year and then burst forth in all the splendor at the time when the moon and soil temperature are just right. And the color combinations are unbelievable. If we could ever figure out what God did in the tulip bulb to create all that beauty, we just might be able to solve some of our social problems.

So how does Gallery Glass work for tulips--wait and see. Whether you're paintng one or a bunch, it will be an opportunity to use some of your favorite colors in the rack. And there is so much variety in the color choices, you can almost always coordinate them to the specific occasion that you celebrating. I chose to use, what my grandaughter calls, the "Easter Colors" although the formal name is pastels. You get these shades by adding white to the color, or by choosing colors from the Gallery Glass Palette--that already have white in them, like I did. This color key uses 2 new colors that I altered slightly. I lightened them because they were too opaque to coordinate with the other pastels in the project, so I added 1:1 Crystal Clear.

If you are looking for a quick and easy tulip project, these two blossoms will work up quickly--easy to paint, though not so easy to lead because of the ring around the flowers. It's hard to keep your leading uniform around such a big circle. The shading can be a lot more dramatic if you apply Hologram Glitter to the end of the petals and comb it into the petal color. The leaves and stems use my favorite 2 greens--Kelly Green and Lime Green. I apply the Lime to the top portion of the leaves because the sun would be shining on them and they would appear lighter, even though the leaf is only one color in nature. I have also done this pattern with the tulips and the ring a different complementary color. The Tulip pattern below is keyed for Ruby Red tulips and a Citrus Yellow ring. Try that combination for something different.

Now, let's look at a REAL beginner project--easy to lead AND easy to paint. This single flower can also be done as a Cling because it is strong enough to hold together when you peel it up. I've done it on a 6x9" oval because I have them available, but it I normally wouldn't consider it "important" enough to justify the use of a surface. However, I often do this design in Spring classes as a leading project. The design doesn't go close enough to the edge for static electricity to be a problem and it is quick and easy to complete the outline. It gives the students a  sense of satisfaction. And they can paint it when they get home.

4 Tulips Pattern - 10" Round
Gallery Glass Supplies: 16008 Kelly Green, 16024 Ivy Green, 16035 Lime Green, 16081 Crystal Clear, 16014 Amethyst, 16017 Magenta Royale, 16423 Hot Pink, 16020 Amber, 16455 Sunflower, 16011 Blue Diamond, 17073 Blue Bird, 17077 Lavender, 17052 Fresh Lime, 17051 Light Green, 16442 Hologram Glitter (HG), 16076 Black Liquid Leading, 16215 10" Round Blank.

2 Tulips Pattern - 10" Round
Gallery Glass Supplies: 16461 Citrus Yellow, 16015 Ruby Red, 16008 Kelly Green, 16035 Lime Green, 16001 Crystal Clear 2 oz. 16076 Black Liquid Leading, 16215 10" Round Blank,

Single Tulip Pattern- 6x9" oval or Cling
Gallery Glass Supplies: 16008 Kelly Green, 16924 Ivy Green, 16035 Lime Green, 16017 Magenta Royale, 16423 Hot Pink, 16442 Hologram Glitter, 16076 Black Liquid Leading, 16215 Oval Blank, or Gallery Glass Leading Blank (for Cling).