22 Replies

I don’t do much painting, so I can’t help you. Hope some of the painters here will respond.

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

Thank you, me too 😊 I think I’m being a little too ambitious as I see so many beautifully painted cakes but fondant doesn’t work like paper, so I’m struggling.

Vee Walker Caballero

From what I’ve seen, that you posted, your painting looks great.

Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. Clarky's Cakes 😎

Thank you but that’s the paper template the fondant one I threw in the trash before I had the idea of asking for help…..popa!

Vee Walker Caballero

Have you tried using edible food dusts and vodka, little better than the gel colours.

The Cake Nook

I tend to use a very dark brown for fine lines, it’s a lot more forgiving than black, I also use nail art brushes because they’re so tiny and synthetic so the bristles stay where they’re supposed to be. Your painting looks beautiful I’m sure you’ll do an amazing job, try not to stress too much your little lady is going to love it and that’s really all that matters.

I always allow the fondant to set up for a few hours before painting. The firmer, dryer surface is more receptive to paint. I agree with Zoe that dusts mixed with alcohol works much better than gel colors and with Charlotte to use a dark brown instead of black. When painting a scene like yours, I start with the lighter colors and build up to the dark….cautiously. I, too use a 00 brush, but Charlotte’s tip about the fingernail art brushes is brilliant!
Your painting is beautiful and your cake will be, too. Can’t wait to see it!

Sugar Sugar by SSmiley

Thank you so much for all your advice, I will try the dark brown, dusts and the nail brushes. I’m so happy, I’m going to go roll out some fondant and leave it to dry now and in the mean time track down some brushes!!! I’m so nervous about this cake, I just want it to be perfect. I will keep you updated and hopefully after her birthday I will upload some photos for you all. Have a great weekend everyone 😊

Vee Walker Caballero

First and foremost, Vee, your cake needs to bring joy to your daughter and I know it will. Don’t be nervous, enjoy the creative process. We all have things we do not like about every project, but that is how we learn and get better. Hugs!

Sugar Sugar by SSmiley

I completely agree with Sandra, letting your fondant firm up is extremely important, although if you’re in a rush you could paint onto a flower/gumpaste plaque which has been shaped over a dummy/cake pan the same size as the cake then apply the plaque to the side of the cake with a dab of Royal icing, see Shauna McGreevey’s Maleficent cake video tutorial, that’s how I usually do mine, then you can get on with the painting while the fondant firms up, it also means if you fudge it up you can start again without messing the whole cake up.
I’m so excited to see the finished cake!!

Thank you Charlotte! That’s a great tip😊 I was wondering what I’d do if I fudged it up….that would be a nightmare! I will watch the video when my wee one is asleep. I have already tried the brown and it’s so much better. Alba’s birthday is the 1st July so I have time to practice all the suggestions. I can’t wait to start it!!!! I will keep you all posted 😊

Vee Walker Caballero

reads forum totally….heads to amazon to shop for nail art brushes!

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Hahaha I did the same. Then a few hours later I watched the Shauna McGeevy tutorials and followed her links to products to see what brushes she uses and bought them too!

Vee Walker Caballero

Ditto Donna and DulcesSuenosConil! Good brushes are key!

Sugar Sugar by SSmiley

Thankfully the £ shop in our town sells the brushes I use so I buy I new pack every month, I like new brushes. Shaun’s video tutorials are amazing, I’ve learnt so much from watching them.

I’ve gone through so many brushes, I like new brushes as well. It’s good to find ones that are recommended. As I’m in Spain, I always find it difficult to track down the equipment I’d like and if I do find it, it’s normally expensive. Shauna’s tutorials I agree are fabulous, I went to sleep very late the other night watching them. I’ve saved around 30, to watch at a later time!

Vee Walker Caballero

You might try painting with cocoa butter as an alternative. Don’t use black – as someone else said, brown is more forgiving. And use a really fine paint brush (number 0) and make sure it is a good quality brush.

June Lynch, Dundas, Ontario, Canada

Thanks June 😊 I will try the cocoa butter. My new brushes arrived so I’m going to try and practice today!

Vee Walker Caballero

Maybe I’ve been cheating but for thin black lines I use a food colour pen. Rainbow dust have a new range with double sided tips. One fine, the other one extra fine. xx

Kizzy, if it is edible, it is not cheating! I just haven’t found any that work very well. I will check out the ones you use. Thanks for the tip!

Sugar Sugar by SSmiley

Have you tried an edible pen? That may help!

Thank you, I’ve been using a black one by Fooddoodler. I just ordered more in different colors 😊 I like the rainbow dusts, I will have a look at their pens, it’s always good to have different sizes on the same pen.

Vee Walker Caballero