Bisq Rooster (Atlantic's #144 Hank is shown)
Assorted Colors (Most are Folkart unless noted)
Reds: 4006 Engine Red, 493 Bright Red Metallic, CeramaCoat/Delta Bright Red
Blues: Anita's 11011 Royal Blue, 964 Midnight, Anita's 11042 Midnight Blue, CeramCoat 02059 Blue Jay, 656 Sapphire Metallic
Purples: 411 Purple, 4123 Red Violet, 404 Periwinkle,654 Amethyst Metallic
Yellows/Gold/Oranges: 4118 Yellow light, 4017 Lemon Custard, 628 Pure Orange, 2902 Pueblo
Other Metallics (yellow tones): Antique Copper, 2480 Royal Gold, 658 Antique Gold, 4033 Gold
4023 Licorice (black)
661 Sequin Black Metallic
Anita's Base Coat 12007 Oatmeal
4001 Wicker White
Duncan OS 508 Butterscotch
Greens: Apple Barrel 21890 Crisp Green, Apple Barrel 21476 Lime Tree, 4036 Evergreen, 671 Peridot metallic, 491 Christmas Green Metallic
One Pigma Micron 005 pen (waterproof and fade proof fine line permanent pigment pen)
Assorted stain brushes
Cleaning cloth
Sponge
Container of water

**Editor's note, CME does not recommend use of Apple Barrel paints on ceramics; but to keep true to the artist's vision the list has been unedited.

The rooster shown is Atlantic's famous Hank the rooster. The colors represent the real-life Royal Dutch Bantam Rooster. Click on photo to enlarge.

All colors used are Folk Art except where noted above. It will be necessary to mix and blend colors as you go. Refer to photo often. See FolkArt color chart to compare to other products: http://www.art-paints.com/Paints/Acrylic/Plaid/Plaid-Folk-Art.jpg

If beginning with greenware, make sure your item is well-cleaned and fired to cone 04. Wipe down bisq with damp sponge and brush before painting - make sure the crevices are free of all dust and bisque particles. Don't begin painting until bisque item is thoroughly dry.

1. Basecoat entire piece with a neutral light color such as Oatmeal. Allow to thoroughly dry - recommend two days.

2. Apply a black wash (similar to antiquing) by thinning Licorice with enough water to make a thin wash. Do one section at a time and use a damp sponge (remove as much water as possible) to wipe back until black is only in crevices and low shade areas. Rinse sponge often. Make sure one area is done before moving on to another.

Artist's note: "I personally like to start with the head and eyes first, so he can look at me as I paint him. Sometimes I think he does LOL"

3. Proceed with chosen sections and add colors in gradations-light to dark first and finishing with metallics, highlights and low-lights. Refer to photos for colors and shadings.

a. Comb and Wattles - Delta CeramCoat Bright Red
b. Eye - Metallic Gold. Pupil is colored with Pigma pen followed by Licorice
c. Beak - Any combination of yellow, gold or lt orange to get correct color. Use micon pen to add detail, nose holes, detailing around beak
d. Mane - Blend Bright Red towards head with yellow, gold ending with yellow on the tips. Graduate color dark to light, head to tips of mane (see photo for reference)
e. Saddle - Reddish Orange at center of back, graduate to orangish, goldish then pale yellow near ends of feathers.
f. Wings - Mix blue and green making a teal for upper part, purplish for middle and a very pale blue and cream for ends of feathers (alternate per photo).
g. Breast - Dark purplish midnight blue near legs, graduating to medium blue/green by the mane.
h. Feet - Pale yellowish/tan with black nails. Gold metallic to highlight.
i. Tail Feathers - Alternate Blue Green/Teal, purplish blue, purplish green and green. Use pure white for short feathers at top base of
tail feathers.
j. Base - Duncan Butterscotch. Let dry thoroughly the make a black wash and wipe off making it look like dirt/sand.
K. Flowers - Your choice of greens, reds, yellows, etc.

4. Highlight and low-light (shade) entire piece by dry brushing metallics to create iridescence like real feathers. Black metallic can be used to darken tail feathers near base and blue/black inside back between tail feathers and blended into the base of the feathers. Use lighter metallics over darker colors and darker metallics over lighter colors. A combination of colors may also be used. You can use your fingers to help apply or blend colors. Use Antique Copper over reddish orange, Royal Gold over orange, and Gold over pale yellow. Use your own creative spirit to choose colors and create your masterpiece.

Editor's note: A big THANK YOU with much appreciation to Joan Trahan for her contribution to this site and for sharing her technique for this stunning rooster.