A bride called me tonight and asked me to had paint a design on a cake. I have never one this before, and I am at a loss as to where to start. Can anyone get me started in the right direction? What brushes do I use, what type of color ie: gel, paste, powder mixed with alcohol, liquid colors??? I'm really clueless here. any help or advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

Americolor Airbrush colors are truly the way to go. They are ready to paint with right out of the bottle. If you use gel colors then you have to thin those with either vodka or everclear. When I have used gel colors I have thinned with lemon extract because it has a high alcohol content and smells better than alcohol. I just bought a set of paint brushes that I use strictly for cake decorating, not sure if there are any that are specific to cake decorating. HTH

What type of design did she ask you to paint?

Well, the bridge is getting married at a winery, so her theme is grapes. She saw this one cake that she likes the look of so I want to try to do something similar.

http://www.carriescakes.com/blog/2010/03/13/handpainted-italian-theme-wedding-cake/

Its such a beautiful cake, but I'm not sure where to start! Im looking for any helpful hints, I have even asked another cake friend of mine for her suggestions too....

Look in to one stroke painting. That will help give you an idea about the techique they used because that is what it reminds me of.

You can paint with gel colors (thinned with alcohol or extracts), air brush colors (one of my favorites), powders or dusts mixed with alcohol or extracts...

For brushes, I use soft artist brushes you find in the craft stores.

That's a very pretty cake. I would suggest rolling out some fondant and trying variations of the items above and see what gives you the best look. I'd almost be tempted to use powder colors (like crystal colors) and see if you can mix them with something like crisco to give you kind of a paint consistancy. Not sure it would work, but sounds good in theory.

TexasSugar is right!!

check out the one stroke painting, that is exactly the technique used on that cake! You load 2 colors into your paintbrush at once and then paint, that cake is very simple if you break down each component

1. the 2 toned green scrolls
2. the spiraling grape vines
3. the additional little flowers
4. the little clumps of grapes


Here are some things I've done using the double loading technique and you can see how you get a main color and a shading color all in the same stroke (hence why they call it ONE STROKE) lol

Oh, and I use americolor gels right out of the bottle...it's almost exactly the consistency of the paint they use for one stroke painting
No need to thin it down.

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=how+to+one+stroke+paint&btnG=Google+Search

Here are some videos and such on the one stroke technique

I always wish I had taken the one stroke classes when Michaels offered them years ago.

I too would LOVE to learn this technique! KH, you do great work!! I have to paint tree trunks on fondant for a cake in June and am worried already. I'm with TexasSugar, practice, practice, practice

KHalstead-- Beautiful handpainting!!!

thanks........I've NEVER taken a class and that blue cake was the first thing I'd EVER painted on! lol It's much easier than you'd think. The trick (I think) is not being shy about it, load up your brush and have at it!!

Man, I love this site . . . it's like being in church . . . I learn something new every week!

One of Donna Dewberry's shows was once about painting on fondant. I don't know what brand she used, but she mixed gel colors with a white food color and then double loaded the brush.

KHalstead, your cakes are so beautiful and you make everything look so easy.

Yes, the one stroke on fondant uses americolor straight from the bottle.

Thanks all for your reply! I cant wait to try this!

KHalstead those hand painted goodies are awesome! I have just started trying hand painting and I love it. I feel like I can get more the look I want than with cutting things out of fondant. Can you explain in more detail how you use the one stroke technique? Thanks!

This is such a pretty technique! I could see substituting it for brush embroidery and getting an even prettier effect. Can't wait to try it!