3 New Fall Window Painting Themes for 2015

I just love it when I can create a window painting scene that represents a business and its services. The creation of a few new characters encourages my artistic interest and helps promote a good spirit for the clients I paint for. 

I work on my art each year adding new trimmings and images. Each is designed to celebrate the holiday or season for which I am creating a painting. In the following scenes the newest additions to my portfolio are highlighted.

Fancy Fall Leaf Image

Leaves and holiday related characters and creatures adorn the Fall painting season. The soft browns, orange, vibrant reds, and fading yellows accent falling leaves and are used as the base colors in centerpiece images. I like using an outline of black for these leaves. I've tried yellow outlines, but the effect was not what I had hoped for. I love adding a few color lines inside the main outline to accent a leaf image. I used a stippling brush and a light brown for a soft effect on the outside of the leaf shown above. I am using this technique again as I really like the results. I have gathered a few new tools to add to my paint kit and I will experiment with them during the off months of window painting. Sponges would be a great way to add character to these leaves. The images in photo do not reflect the textures I add with brush strokes. 

Groomer Girl and Trixie Turkey 

Groomer Girl was created on the way to this dog grooming shop as I puzzled through ideas for what to paint. The idea hit me about ten minutes from the shop. I giggled the whole way in and was really amped to see the finished image. Inspiration is half the battle of window painting. I thought of the turkey with a soft, naive smile and the girl with a snickering look on her sweet face. The girl is now a permanent resident on the window scenes here at Groomer Has It in Las Vegas. She will appear in a Christmas scene with a reindeer when that holiday rolls in. 

Thanksgiving Display Basket 

The end window set features a veggie basket and it contains all the vegetables and herbs one might stuff a turkey with. I prefer these stuffings as opposed to bread based stuffing as it adds moisture to the bird and a delicious aroma to the process. I did my best to represent celery, onions, garlic, carrots, and the herbs - Sage and Thyme, but I neglected to add Rosemary. I use these in my recipe and I grow these herbs in my yard. The garden keeps me busy when I am not painting windows. You can see the basket weave process I used here. It is a series of lines and squiggles in an ordered display. 

Groomer Has It - Pilgrim Dog

What decorating job at a dog grooming shop would be complete without a dog in the scene!? This was a suggestion by the owner and the little guy here appeared wearing a Pilgrim's hat. The owner was thrilled with her artwork and said she is getting a lot of compliments. I'm glad that they turned out good. I'm always worried they aren't going to like what I paint. Ive not had any complaints, yet....Happy Holidays! 

(Bear with me folks, I am having a hard time getting Blogger to set my images correctly... That boom, Crash is my reasoning going out the window. I just want the images set with the text in between... is that so difficult??? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!)

Take Pictures Of Your Window Painting Themes

Take Pictures Of Your Window Painting Themes 

Animals and Standard Holiday Fare

Gotta love those Christmas critters! These are the penguins I painted several years ago. Snow play is a popular scene in window painting themes. Whether you are using animals or people, dressing up a window with snow scenes using paint can be a great substitute for the real thing. Here you see three birds in their winter gear enjoying the slopes and taking time out to play and linger for the holidays. The names are the owner's pets. I love the trees in this scene and the look on penguin Montego's face. He certainly looks like he is having a good time. The advantage of this art is it is original. The scene will be removed after the first of the year come January. I am grateful I had a disposable camera with me when I finished the painting or I would not have this image design to share with you now.

Buy a good camera to bring with you. After the painting is finished, snap several shots from angles to the right, left, full center and from far away. If you have a lot of glass left on the window after you have painted, watch the glare from the flash mode with your camera. You will need to step to one side or the other to avoid having the flash wash out the picture. Choose good lighting in the afternoon for the best quality images.

Get close ups of the details so that you may mark this down in your drawing and image journal. Note which details to keep and which to repeat again. Although this particular image will not be painted again unless I repeat in similar fashion, it can be used as inspiration for future window paintings.

Snow playing penguins - window painting

Santa Claus Paintings

Santa is another great image to alter and paint doing things other than over seeing the toy shop or making the rounds on Christmas Eve. I have him in all sorts of situations. Below the scene shows him having his hair cut by the local North Pole barber elf. I think the elf is doing a fine job of it. The little guy is perched carefully on a ladder and doing his best to trim Santa up for the big night. Santa has to look right and I think he is happy with his barber. What do you think? I think I am again glad I had a good camera with me to preserve this image!

Santa At the North Pole Barber Shop(1)

Santa At the North Pole Barber Shop (2) closeup

Getting the details saved from this scene took a bit of editing so I could look a bit closer at the whole image. With the smirk on Santas face and the elf, I can repeat this one with more details at a later date. Preserve as much of your art as you can. It is temporary and will be disappearing after the New Year. This is something you must get used to if you want to paint for the holidays. 

For more information, supplies and materials see:

So, You Want To Paint Holiday Windows on Squidoo. or visit www.holidaywindowpaint.com to buy the beginner's tutorial, The Essential Window Painting Guide.

What animal or character would you like to paint for the holidays? 

Off Season For Window Painters

Now that most of the major holidays are out of the way window painters find the time to keep their talent fresh in a number of ways. 

For me in the off season,  I am working out some sketches of the paintings I have done over the years. 

Most of the designs I have were original creations at the time I did the paintings. If it were not for photographs I would have no record of them. In the weeks to come I will post more information and images from my personal designs and tips for this technique.

Are you a creative sort? 

This might be a great little side hobby for you. Get practiced up and start planning your window painting projects. Before you know it, painting time will be upon us and it will be time to celebrate the holidays once more!

See the article here for more about what window painters do after the holidays:

What Window Painters Do
http://voices.yahoo.com/what-window-painters-do-12083010.html

Related Articles:

Christmas Art Painter - So, You Want To Paint Holiday Windows - on Squidoo