Certs Tips and Checklist
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Below is a list of tips to help those of you who will be attending certs! I recently attended and had so much FUN! Certs is a wonderful experience for everyone who loves to paint!
You can check out my certs pics by clicking the button below...
Practice Apples, Plums, Pears, Ivy, Sunflower, Full Roses, Rosebuds with Calayxs, One Stroke Leaves, Birdhouse, Heart Leaves, five petal flowers, daisies, sunflower leaves, fruit leaves and Curliques!
When doing the apples make sure that you include the dimple (smile) of the apple. Also when you are shading the apple make sure you pull your brush on the sides and in the middle halfway down. You want to make sure that you have the yellow highlight in the middle.
Pears - When painting them you begin with the upside U stroke that you do when painting rosebuds then curve out to the edge. When doing pears make sure that you have the dimple, the C stroke on the side which makes it appear plump and the little hairs on the bottom part of the pear.
Plums - Begin with your large C stroke then when adding the second part of the plum be sure to watch your white/pink color in the middle and make sure it meets when you curve your brush around. Your blum should somewhat resemble a "butt"...:)
Ivy - When doing this make sure your angel wings point almost straight out. Then when doing your full leaf make sure it is just below the V of your wings.
Sunflower- Be sure to load your #12 for your petals before you pounch the center. Doing this will ensure your center stays wet when painting your sunflower petals. When painting your petals be sure to start your petal on the outside of the center and slide the brush in to touch the outside edge of the center so you can pull some of the black/brown into your petals. NEVER start your petals from inside the center! This will pull too much color into the petals.
Roses - Make sure you do tighter wiggles. Do not do LOOPY ones. Make 5 or 6 petals on the first skirt and make sure the petals resemble shells. Do not leave your shell stroke open make sure you connect each side so you will be sure to have a better shaped rose. When doing your center make sure you make tthe round part a circle not a "cat's eye". You want to be sure to see the darker color in the middle of the bud.
Rose Buds & Calayx- Be sure to make two layers for your bud. When doing your calayx start on the side of the bud and touch, lean and pull gradually pulling up the lightest side of the brush just leaving dark paint. Be sure not to lean your brush when doing the calayx.
Leaves - At the bottom of the page I have leave "helpers" which are great to learn placement and size of leaves.
Curliques - Make sure you make your puddle of paint inky. Also when you load your brush be sure to twirl your bristles so the spread apart. Doing this will ensure a better load and you will not run out of paint as quickly. When painting your curliques you need to make sure you watch the bottom few hairs of the brush this is all you paint with. You do not paint with the side of the brush. Use VERY little pressure when painting let the brush glide. Do not force it. Use your shoulder when doing your curliques NOT your wrist!
SUNFLOWER LEAF HELPER
HEART LEAF HELPER and OS Leaf Helper
ROSE HELPER
Use the circle (which should be the size of a quarter as a guide when painting your petals. You should never go inside the circle when you paint the first skirt of your rose.
CHECKLIST FOR CERTS
Water Basin (preferably DD's with the lid)You can stand the lid up on one end and use it to hold your RTG's. Very helpful when painting your designs and practicing from the RTG's.
Baby Wipes
Empty Pickle Jar and Brush Plus Cleaner - Use this when you need to rinse paint out of your brush! Put a few drops of brush plus in the jar with some water. Put the lid on the jar and shake to distribute the cleaner. Using this before going into your DD basin keeps your water cleaner and useable longer. You will not have time to change your water alot.
Extra Set of Brushes for Test Day! - You will be wearing out the brushes they provide rather quickly so for test day I recommend an extra set.
Wax Paper - Some of you may want to use this although a couple auditors told me that they do not recommend using it because it is hard to do some of the strokes. Personally I brought some and only used it a couple times....waste of space in my opinion.
Spray Laquer - For setting your projects and boards with. Your projects will be ruined if you don't spray them because of the super slick surface.
Extra bag - For shopping time. When you get to shop you want to have plenty of room to hold your goodies. I am lucky I brought one along because when it came time for shopping there was a stampede and I grabbed what I could quickly and stuck it in my bag.
Extra bag - To take your projects and binder home in.
Sweater or Coat - I have heard the room can get cold although I thought it got too hot a couple times.
Box, Cart or Bag to carry your supplies - I brought a tool box that held everything.
Water Bottle - I brought one for the times when the ladies room was full and I couldn't get in there. I filled it up in my room before class so I always had fresh water and didn't have to worry about long lines.
Camera - To take pics of your special time at Certs!
Map - of the city so you know where you are going! Luckily my hubby bought one so we knew where to go!
That's about all I can think of. Everything else is provided. Just make sure you bring lots of $$$ for shopping time. There is a HUGE selection for you there. Also I would recommend if your hotel is near the airport to buy earplugs. Ours was near the airport and I could not sleep the first night because of the LOUD planes.