How to Paint Faces on Wooden Eggs

Painting eggs is a craft for all ages.

Painting eggs has a long history. Pysanky eggs are traditional painted eggs from the Ukraine. These eggs specialize in fine line drawing on eggs. However, because pysanky use natural eggs, the work is fragile. Painting on wooden eggs gives more strength to your work. John Lamouranne specializes in painting the faces of celebrities onto wooden eggs. He places the eggs into dioramas that showcase his work. Wooden eggs are readily available in craft stores during the spring months and are available online all year round.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden eggs
• Rag
• Acrylic paint
• 1/2-inch wide paintbrush
• Fine paintbrush
• Fine permanent marker

Instructions

1. Clean the wooden egg. Remove any stickers, marks or dust. If water is necessary to remove dirt, allow the egg to completely dry before painting.

2. Mix the paint for the flesh tone. According to "How To Paint Miniatures," achieving the correct skin tone is the most difficult part of painting a realistic face. Mix brown, red, yellow and peach tones together to create your desired tone. Mix enough paint for the entire egg. It's difficult or impossible re-mix the exact same tone. Allow the egg to dry.

3. Paint the entire egg the base, flesh tone. Use the 1/2-inch wide brush to provide coverage quickly. Allow the paint to dry completely.

4. Paint the eyes. Use the rule of thirds to create a proportional face. Place the eyes 1/3 from the top of the egg. Using the fine brush, draw the outline of the eye. Wash or switch the brush. Dip it in a slightly off-white shade and fill the eye shape. Paint the iris and let it dry. Finish the eye by painting the pupil. Add a small white dot to one edge as a highlight. This gives the eye dimension. Repeat for the second eye.

5. Paint the mouth. Using the law of thirds, make the mouth 1/3 up from the bottom of the egg. Use a brown-red combination for the lips. Make the bottom lip slightly fuller and redder than the top lip.

6. Use the fine permanent marker to add detail such as the nose, nasal-labial folds and eyebrows.

Tips & Warnings

• When replicating a real person's face on the egg, concentrate on the feature or features that are unique to the person.

References

• John Lamouranne: About the Egg Man
• Fave Crafts: 6 Painted Wooden Eggs
• How To Paint Miniatures: Painting Faces on Miniatures
• University of North Carolina: Pysanky Eggs - Ukrainian Easter Eggs