Edible Chocolate Superhero Painting

Hand painted chocolate canvases; make great gifts for those who have just about everything. So take you painting skills to another level with this yummy confectionary medium.

It is the delicate nature of the medium that make it, a fun and unique medium to work with. Your friends will be coming to you with pictures of there new house, children, pets and just about anything. The ones I painted many years ago are still in great shape, you can even spray confectionery glaze on them to really preserve them.

Its chocolate time!

Prepare your work area for working with food.

A copy of the picture you, will re-create or your own design.

Piece of duck canvas fabric (a little larger than your finished piece will be)

Gel food coloring

Plastic paint pallet or plate (pallet should be designated for food color)

Paint brushes (designated just for working with food items)

Toothpicks or carving tool

Vodka or clear vanilla (this is used in place of water, it will evaporate leaving a clean and blended design)

White candy melts

Small microwave safe bowl

Spoon or small spatula

Foam board

Hobby knife

Ruler

No stick spray oil

Microwave

Tape

Cookie sheet (optional) or hard board to tape down the fabric and the mold frame.

The picture will dictate the orientation and shape of the canvas. I like to free hand paint, but you can trace your design onto the chocolate canvas, no problem. You will notice that the image is folded to create a grid; this just helps with the placement of design.

After you have washed the material with dish soap and it has dried flat. (I use an iron if it needs it)

Then you will place it on cookie sheet or other flat surface. Take the no stick spray and spray the canvas material. Not to heavy just saturate it.

The foam board is cut 1/4" larger than my desired image size. (We do this to allow for a framed edge)

Cut the rectangle out, you then will be left with your chocolate canvas mold. I clean the edges and spray a little oil on it as well. Place the foam board mold on top of the prepared duck canvas. Tape down the edges to the cookie sheet or to your hard surface.

The thickness of your foam board will determine the thickness of the chocolate canvas. When making painting that is larger, 8”x10” etc. I will use a ¼” or ½” thick foam board for my mold.

Now that the mold is ready, you will want to prepare the candy melts, follow the directions on the package.

It doesn't take but a few seconds in the microwave.

After candy is melted, it is time to pour into your mold frame, as you begin to pour, do a little at a time you can tap the edge of foam to help level it out. I use a straight edge wider than the cutout to remove any extra if needed. Please remember if it doesn't turn out the first time for you, the candy can be melted again with no problem.

You can let the chocolate canvas set and cool or you can speed it up by placing in the refrigerator. (Make sure everything remains flat)

Now the candy melt has cooled, time to remove the fabric and the mold frame.

Be gentle with this step, take your tape off and then remove the fabric. After the fabric has been removed, just press with your finger around the back edges pushing upwards, releasing the chocolate canvas. There you have it white chocolate with a real canvas texture, ready for you to paint.

I have found that when painting, it helps to layout the design with the key elements. Then place a little black gel food color on the pallet and use a very small liner brush 18/0. The vodka is placed in a little glass bowl and my brush is dipped in it and then into the black, creating a nice paint consistency.

I use a larger amount of vodka in a glass to rinse my brushes. You can use other clear alcohol based drinks if you don't have vodka it really does keep the chocolate dry.

So by this time you have noticed it is just like real painting, you have to watch how wet, and try and keep the white areas white. You can blend color and erase some color. If you need to erase color just take clean brush dipped in vodka and begin to lift off color, you can scrape details into the chocolate if needed. And use the vodka to blend color.

Just have fun using all your painting skills; your friends and family will really love this gift.

After you have finished painting you can choose to seal with food grade confectionery lacquer. I leave mine plain.

Let the painting dry for a day or two, and then place a paper towel on top and lightly press this will help blot up extra moisture if any. It may take up a little color but, usually not enough to mess with the design.

You may want an edible frame, this can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like. I have molds that I made but for this one, it is simple just candy melts drizzled around the edge.

Let it cool, and your gift is ready to be boxed up and given.

I have included pictures of some other Chocolate paintings I have done. My mom loves Elvis so I put hers in a chocolate rabbit box for fun.

Thank you so much for your time, peace, love and happy creating! J