Cake! magazine by Australian Cake Decorating Network May 2015 | Page 67

Painting on cakes can be daunting, is
it as hard as it looks?

What are your tricks for cleaning up
painting mistakes?

The actual technique of painting
onto fondant is quite easy and you
can learn the basics in a very short
time. However as with any technique
to master it you have to practise,
practise, practise.

You just wash off the area you want to
remove with clean water and then rub
it over with some kitchen roll. The area
should dry in around ten minutes and
then you can paint over it. I have used
this technique on designs that are
a few days old and the paint comes
right off! Most of my students are
always amazed (and relieved) when I
demonstrate this for them.

What is the benefit of painting on
cakes compared to using other
methods of decorating?
For me it is so much quicker than
other methods, and the results are
instant. There is no waiting for days of
drying time before you see the finished
product.
Also I think that it is much more of an
individual pursuit. Each person will
create a unique work of art rather than
a carbon copy of a master design.

Is there anything important to know
about colours before starting? For
example do they darken or mature and
give a different effect over time?

If you use neat colours for creating
shadows these can sometimes remain
tacky, however as this is only used on
small areas it’s not normally an issue,
but you can cover your design with a
thin layer of edible varnish (this can be
bought as a spray can) which will fix
your design.
In very humid conditions sometimes
the painting can bleed slightly, this
gives it a fuzzy look. Again a spray
of varnish should prevent this from
happening.
If you have painted a dummy cake
then the colours may fade over time,
but I have cakes that are a year old
that are still fine.

This will depend on the brand that you
use, some brands will fade relatively
quickly. However if you are painting
a real cake to be eaten this isn’t an
issue.

more information

To admire more of Natasha’s beautiful work you can follow her at the following social media:
neviepiecakes.com
facebook.com/NeviePie
instagram.com/neviepie
twitter.com/neviepiecakes
pinterest.com/amelieshouse/
amelieshouse.blogspot.co.uk
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