PAINTING ON CANDLES

 


 

PAINTED CANDLES MAKE GREAT GIFTS!

Giving painted candles away is something I really like to do. I think every one I’ve given away has been truly appreciated. I’ve had people say that these are the prettiest candles they have ever seen. You just do not see many hand-painted candles.  If you love to paint you will enjoy acrylic painting on candles.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT CANDLE

Perhaps one of the most important things to be aware of when starting this endeavor is to choose the correct candle to paint. Only candles with very little or no scent will give you beautiful results that will last. I once painted on some green, pine-scented Christmas candles. While the immediate results were great, a few weeks later, the oil had soaked into my painted design. They were so ugly that I was embarrassed that I had given one away. So --- when choosing candles to paint, choose the cheaper unscented ones.

Although I have seen on the market a special additive to mix with paints for decorating candles, I do not use it. I use regular acrylic paint as it comes from the jar.  I prefer flat synthetic brushes.

CHOOSING A DESIGN!

When it comes to a designs for my candles, I have not found a lot of books available, but there are designs for tumblers, vases, and other similar objects that will fit on candles. I imagine one could carefully trace a pattern on to a candle, but I usually ‘wing it.’ As a rule. I paint several large leaves placed strategically around a space which I leave open for a larger flower such as a rose.   After I’ve painted 4 or 5 larger leaves, I add the center flower overlapping the leaves so that they appear to come from under the flower. I then add various small flowers, rose buds and leaves until I’m happy with the results. (If I’m not satisfied, I’ll wash all the paint off,  dry it well, and start over.)

BE CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING!

One word of caution when painting your candle, be careful when holding it to watch that you don’t mess up what you’ve painted. (I don’t know how many times I’ve smeared up my work by not watching where I held it.)

STORING OR MAILING YOUR PAINTED CANDLE!

After my candle is finished to my liking, I seal it with a clear finish.  If I intend to store it, rather than display it, I wrap a piece of plastic wrap around it.  When I mail a painted candle, I wrap a piece of bubble wrap around it and put it in a box just slightly larger than the candle.

Donna Dewberry’s book “More Small & Pretty Projects” has pictures and instructions for painting two beautiful candles.

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