Hey all!

Got a question for those who frequently paint on cakes!

I need to create an ombre watercolor cake next weekend and have pretty much decided that I will paint on crusted buttercream. (I am a firm believer in Swiss buttercream, and haven't made American in years! But from what I've read it looks like crusting is the way to go.) My client is very much into the brushed watercolor ombre look, so I have opted for painting instead of marbling buttercream. Please feel free to suggest other techniques!

My question is: How do I create other shades of blue when creating this ombre scheme?

Since I will be using straight gel, I can't lighten it with frosting. Do I use white gel color? More vodka? Please please let me know your thoughts! I am going to do a practice cake this weekend so I'm confident when doing the bigger cake next week.

Thank you so much!

Why can you not lighten gel color with white. I use Wilton gel colors all they time and they make a white color, very concentrated, which I use to soften straight gel colors. It comes in a squeeze bottle and is thinner than their gel colors.  I would suggest you dilute your gel colors with vodka because it takes a long time, if ever, for straight gel color to dry.

If I were doing this, I would stick with the SMBC and pipe the ombre colors onto the cake, then blend them with the bench scraper.  Personally, I find that much prettier than painted.

I think I would make two small cakes and try painting on one and using different coloured buttercream for another. See which you like best.

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