When I paint a piece, I like to set the mood with the background first.  If it is to be a landscape you will want to know the season and the feeling of the scene.   It doesn't matter if it is a portrait, wildlife or still life, we need a background and mood to be set. I like to keep things soft and things more in the back so the subject will stand out.  Everything should be painted in layers.  First wet the canvas, or thin the paint so it will go on in a smooth sweep to cover the white of the gesso.  Use a broad cross hatch stroke and work quickly before the paint has time to dry.  In this way you will avoid leaving start and stop lines.  Remember that your sky should be darker toward the top and lighter as you get to the horizon.  try to softly introduce a number of colors and never make your sky "just blue".  For a still life, try to let there be darker areas toward the corners of the canvas, sometimes around the area where the subject will be laid in later.  If you feel you have made your colors too strong, thin your white to a "wash" and softly blend over everything and it will soften the look and pull everything together.

FEATHER PAINTING:  If you wish to paint on feathers - first get a hardy feather.  I prefer a turkey feather.  It must be washed with "Dawn dishwashing soap" and blow dry wiht a COOL blow dryer and shape.  If the feathers separate too much, I use Elmer's glue with a little water and put it between my fingers and pull the feather together.  It dries clear and will not be seen.  Be sure to use a painting medium when you paint the feathers as it will help to keep the paint flowing and keep it from drying too fast.  I also like to use a medium that varnishes as I paint it.  You want to paint in the direction of the grain of the feather.  Don't overpower with too much paint.  You will want to use a lot of white, then wash colors over.  Try to let the feather work into the design.
When finished, I embellish with other feathers, beads, etc.  Then line boxes with glass lids.
   

PAINTING ON CANDLES:
There is a medium for painting on candles.  I have also just used Gesso.  I usually like to rub the candle with clean fine steel wool or a nylon stocking.  Then put on the medium or Gesso.  Now paint on your design.  After it is dry, I use a brush on varnish to the area that has been painted.  They  make great gifts and look oh so pretty!

PAINTING ON BOTTLES;
I like to save the neat bottles that spices come in as well as tiny perfume bottles.
Many times they are colored so I just Gesso, then paint the picture and spray with
a fixative spray.  If they are clear, I will use a glass medium and glass paints to paint
on them so you can see through them.  Use your own judgement but they work out nice for painting miniatures for the collector boxes....