Painting small areas in light colors?

Have you tried contacting Arty Mcgoo?? She is the queen of painting on cookies!

No, but I definitely will. Thank you!

Kim at Sugar Rush Custom Cookies is also active on this site and a phenomenal painter; I'm sure she can help; though would love to hear others' experience as well here.

Hi Colleen,

Although I am quite new to the world of painting on cookies, I may have some solutions for you. Through my own trial and error, I have discovered that painting with gel food colors has it's own unique properties. It's translucent, it dries quickly, and is difficult to layer color. That being said, it also creates a beautiful result once you have a idea how to work around those difficulties! I have found that this medium resembles watercolor and porcelain painting, and requires you to consider your light areas ahead of time. Leaving the white / light areas blank and painting around them is one solution. The other is to use an opaque color (white), The latter is not fool proof and will pick up color beneath it. I have used Wilton's White-White Icing Color. (I haven't ventured our to use a variety of products yet). Possibly another remedy to the problem with adding a mouth to the already painted beard would be to apply/pipe/paint a bit of royal icing, which is opaque, and then add some color to that after it dries. In my Silent Night cookies, I also had a dark sky painted and added stars. I used the white opaque icing color and mixed a slight bit of yellow. I added white over that to brighten. Remember if you "overwork" an area that you have painted to add another layer, it will pick up that under painting, so less is best or it will "muddy" your painting. I also use Vodka to dilute my paint as it dries faster, and I wait for the first layer of paint to dry completely before adding more. 

Hopefully, this is beneficial. Remember I am new to this and there may be better solutions than what I offer.

I am looking forward to seeing your beautiful painted cookies! 

Jenny

Totally agree with that jennabea said.  For the beginner I would also suggest that one avoids the areas to be left white (or light in colour) and apply the lightest washes first.  This allows you to gradually work towards darker washes.  It is better to cover areas loosely in the early stages and then slowly apply darker/mid tone values.  

PS  I see you have outlined the Russian doll cookie with black pen. Adding additional color may pick up the black color. Be careful and deliberate when you lay color into those outlined areas so it does not pick up the black color. Too many brush strokes will surely do that.  

Jennabea and Kim - Thanks for all the tips! I am trying to digest all of this. I still can't get over that you consider yourself new at this Jennabea. Your cookies are just spectacular!

Now just to clarify, when you say that you used the white opaque color for your Silent Night cookies (which I am absolutely in love with)-- you diluted the Wilton White with a bit of vodka, added a dab of yellow gel paste, and applied that on the already dried dark blue sky, to make the little stars? Am I reading that right? 

That makes a lot more sense to me than what I was trying to do. 

Also, yes, I outlined the Russian doll in black marker but that's just the template. I did that because the copy was light and I want to be able to see it under the KK machine. However, I do want to attempt painting it without all the outlines if possible and that's why I am trying to figure out the light areas.

I've attached a pix here of the actual dolls I'm going to attempt to turn into cookies. That should give you a better idea. I truly don't know if this is way above my level of cookie decorator. It very well may be and I might be better off just piping. I've had the dolls for months, trying to work up the nerve to attempt them! LOL

thanks again for the generous compliment!  I am a artist and Jill of all Trades, surely a newbie to cookies, but learning as I go. 

Yes on the opaque color, but it may not need diluting as it may be loose enough for what you need. Just be careful that you don't load heavy color on your cookie because it may not dry well. I try and paint in thin layers to avoid that issue. So, for stars on dark sky, mix white with a bit of yellow, no thinning with vodka (a little swig for yourself and go for it!

On the Russian Dolls, add washes of color like Kim suggested. Build depth and darker colors as you paint layer. When I say layers, I mean a wash of color, let that dry, and then add another. Always remember overworking with the paintbrush will lift the color below. I love the idea of piping over painted areas too. Maybe that would be a way to add the roses over the black/ dark color in the dress. Paint them when they dry. Wash the face with color and keep it light around where the eyes are. 

Overall Colleen, just go for it and enjoy the process of learning something new . Trial and error are my best friends most of the time! You can do it! I'll be anxious to see the dolls when you get them done. 

Oh, I cannot thank you and Kim enough for the advice and tips. This site is just awesome!

I am going to try these. And cross my fingers. For sure when they're done, I'll post a photo regardless of the way they turn out! :-)