Instructions for a Painted Backdrop on a Nativity Scene
- 1). Cover the ground where you'll be painting with the drop cloths. Spread the sheet or canvas flat on top of the drop cloths. Place a heavy rock or book on each corner of the canvas to keep it from moving while you paint.
- 2). Sketch the outline of the stable centered on the canvas. Draw some small rocks on the ground. Add a palm tree or two on one side of the stable. If desired, add a small cluster of simple mud and clay dwellings in the background. Finish the drawing by outlining a large gleaming star just slightly off-center over the top of the stable.
- 3). Paint the stable and tree trunks brown, the palm fronds green and the rocks gray and brown. Paint the background houses dark brown and black.
- 4). Add texture to the painted items by highlighting each item with slightly darker shades of the appropriate color. Allow the painted portions to dry completely; it may take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.
- 5). Paint the entire sky background a deep midnight blue, extending paint all the way to the edges. Dot the sky with small stars in white or yellow. Paint the large center star in light yellow with gold highlights. With a small brush, add a few randomly placed yellow or gold lines extending out from the large star to give the impression of bright light shining out. Allow the completed canvas to dry.
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