I’ve been asked to provide a step-by-step for the transfer painting technique from the previous post. Here you go!

What you will need today:

  • cereal box
  • brayer
  • white gesso
  • paper plate (or other flat surface for rolling out gesso)

1. Dig that cereal box out of the trash and cut it down to a manageable size.

2. Put a dab of white gesso on your paper plate and roll your brayer through the paint.

3. Apply the gesso by rolling your brayer across the cereal box.

4. Cover the entire cereal box, but vary your pressure as you roll your brayer, letting some color and details from the box show through.

5. Set aside to dry completely. (Note: wash your brayer right away. You don’t want the gesso to dry on it!)

That’s it for today! Tomorrow you will need:

  • watercolors
  • a larger brush (about 1/2″ or so)
  • a cotton rag or paper towel
  • clear acrylic spray


9 Responses to “Tutorial: Cereal Box Transfer Paintings: Part 1”  

  1. Thank you Carla, for getting out there so quickly. There must have been several requests apart from mine. I am sure you wonder why you have to teach us how to put paint on a cereal box, in fact the thought makes me giggle, but hey..

    My partner always leans over on to the lap top when I have your bolg open…he likes the simplicity of the illustrations and especially the cow figure that has been around lately.

  2. Uh oh.. just thought of something. We don’t eat cereal. A wonderful excuse to delve back into childhood once more and get my fave box. Be right back.

  3. haha… paint on cereal box… you ASKED for step by step!!! LOL

  4. Can’t wait to see more!!! :) Thanks for posting this…

  5. neat!

  6. WOW! This looks fun. I am doing it. But I have to use a box of crackers or something. Don’t eat cereal anymore. Thanks for the new project!

  7. I have been using boxes to make ATC’s. I never thought about painting on them…thanks for the great idea. I also get tea bags in boxes and the nice thing about them is that they are white on the backside. Carla, I love your little people and the cow is so cute and funny!

  8. I saw these in class and forgot to ask you about them. Love it! You are resourceful and generous. Thanks, Carla!

  9. COOL! can’t wait to try this, i’ll add poems like michelle de poefusion.


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