Techniques - Textures and layering

Tip

Textures and layering

When doing textures I find it best to use a flexible scraper, this avoid brush marks and it is easier to achieve a ‘rough’ look. It is important to remember that there are no strict rules when doing this kind of painting, it is more important to use your own initiative and let the creative juices flow, but here is a few tips to help you get the best results possible.

  1. Stain the wood, if you use a new object to tone down the “newness” of the door. Let the wood dry completely before starting to paint.
  2. I find that using old “chunky” paint, works well when doing this old effect. When using Abigails kryt paint, you can just add a bit of water when paint is chunky and dry. When painting something to have an old look (like this door) think of everything that would have append to this door over time for example a lot of layers of paint, chips, cracks etc.
  3. I started with a big chuck of Abigails Kryt paint layer, using a flexible scraper to flatten it down and to spread the rest.
  4. This paint was pretty dry, I wanted it thick so I left some bums in random places.
  5. I added some plaster of paris to the grey paint and spread some grey over the white.
  6. Because I wanted more layers, I repeated layering.
  7. Between layers, when paint was almost dry, I scraped some sections and reapplied the excess right back in place. This left a more raised area of texture.
  8. Use white glue for the next step, this is how it is done: Spray paint some areas with some black paint, wait a few minutes till it’s dry to touch.
  9. Apply white glue over the black paint areas, the thicker it’s spread the wider the cracks will be.
  10. Wait a few minutes till glue is dry enough but still tacky.Use a brush to apply paint over the glue but be careful not to pull the glue with your brush.

The magic about this glue trick is the different drying times between paint and glue.

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