Combing Technique

• 1). Review the ways that colors blend in your design. If your colors blend with noticeable lines--for example, an open light purple flower may have dark purple veins--continue to Step 2 in this section. If your colors blend into each other--for example, a sky at dusk with colors fading from dark to light--refer to Section 2.
  
  
• 2). Apply two or more colors of paint to the sections of your design that you're blending. Apply the first color and then smooth, using your combing tool, to remove bubbles and create an even texture. Pull the comb back and forth through the paint to smooth. Apply the second section and repeat. With the flower example, you would apply light purple to the petal, smooth the paint, apply dark purple at the spot where the petal attaches to the flower's center and smooth the dark purple section.
  
  
• 3). Blend from one paint across into the other using your combing tool or a toothpick. Carefully dip the pointed end into the first color and gently draw the first color into the second, pulling paint along as you draw. "Comb" blend the colors together as desired. In the flower petal example, you would comb from the dark purple section into the light, pulling lines of paint across to make the purple veins.
  
  

Fade Blend Technique

• 1). Apply one section of paint. Apply less paint as you reach the edge of the "fade point"---the area where the first color will blend into the next.
  
  
• 2). Smooth the paint using your combing tool.
  
  
• 3). Dip half/side of a narrow square paintbrush head in the original color and the other half/side in the color for the next section that you're fading into.
  
  
• 4). Align the paintbrush head, color-to-color, along the edge where you stopped painting the first section.
  
  
• 5). Paint along the edge. As you paint, the second color should appear in the new section of your design with only a slight line between the two. With fade blending, the goal is to blend one color almost seamlessly into another so that no visible "line" exists at the blending point. To fade further, "double dip" you paintbrush again and repeat the brush stroke.
  
  
• 6). Paint the second section starting from an area away from the fade point/last brush stroke and then smooth the paint up to the fade point. If only dealing with two sections, start from the area farthest from the fade point.
  
  
• 7). Double-dip your brush lightly one last time and draw it through the fade point. Wipe the brush off, or use a clean brush, and repeat again directionally on both sides of the fade point to smooth.