Brocante Home Collection's Paintbrush and Pearls: dry brush technique

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Wet Distress with Chalk Paint®

Wet Distressing is one of those techniques that I like to use when I am painting a vintage picture frame or furniture with carvings and details. Rather than distressing with sand paper and risk destroying the ornate carvings, using the wet distressing technique helps to preserve those features.

I'll show you how to turn this mirror into the one above.

1) First, paint your piece with Chalk Paint® - just one coat will usually do since we will be removing some. (If you are distressing from a second color, first paint the base color and let thoroughly dry before this step.) I am using French Linen and just one coat since I am going to distress down to the original gold frame.

2) Let the paint almost dry - you want the paint to be dry but not hardened. It should feel dry to the touch, but just so.

3) Using either a damp cloth or baby wipes (surprise!) gently wipe off the paint from the areas you want to show the underneath, such as the edges and raised areas. I like to use baby wipes because they have just the right amount of moisture. If you have let the paint dry too much and are finding it hard to wipe off, then gently sand using a high (600 grit) sand paper to distress. (This is the same buffing sponge that I use to buff.) Be careful not to sand down the carvings.

4) Wax with Soft Clear Wax or as I am doing Soft Dark Wax over the Clear Wax to give it an aged look. This is where the Ultimate Waxing Brush really shines making it easy to wax into those crevices. You can even use Aging Dust if you prefer that look.

Wet distressing works really well on old gold frames where you want the original gold to peak through as I am doing on this frame. Best of all, you didn't even need to sand.

Note: if you want more of the gold or underlying color to show through, another option is to use a Dry Brush Technique, but more about that later!

Happy Painting! Rachel

Chalk Paint® and supplies are available at my two shops:

4323 Irvington Rd., Irvington, VA and

19 S. Belmont Ave. (in the heart of Carytown), Richmond, VA

Directions to either shop

To see more tips, tutorials, photos: Paintbrush and Pearls

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Monday, October 7, 2013

Dry Brush Technique using Chalk Paint®

I almost always get comments on the technique I used on one of the very first pieces I painted with Chalk Paint®, my jewelry case at the shop. It is called a Dry Brush Technique. It is really quite easy, just remember that less is more (I'll get to that later).

I like to use this technique when I am wanting an overall distressed look without distressing with sandpaper. The look you are after is that of old paint underneath a newer coat.

First, paint the entire piece - I used a neutral color, Paris Grey. You will want to cover the entire piece. I like to use Annie's Chalk Paint® brush. As you can see, the paint brush is loaded - I'm pointing this out so you can see the difference for the dry brush.

Then, barely tip another brush into a second color such as Old White - and here is the trick. WIPE OFF MOST OF THE PAINT. I'm showing you with the Paris Grey as it is easier to see the contrast between the brush above and the one below.

Using sweeping strokes, lightly brush over the first coat (you've let the first solid coat dry). You are not trying to cover the first coat, but lightly adding the second color. Work quickly since the paint will dry faster with the dry brush. Add more or less paint to the surface by layering. If you do it right, it looks as if you have distressed down to the first coat.

Do this as many times with the second color as you want to achieve the "look". For more depth, you can even dry brush the first paint color again over the second.

Finish with Clear or Clear and Dark Soft Wax and that's it!

Your finished piece will look like you have spent a lot of effort distressing. It couldn't be easier.

This is just one of the techniques I will be teaching at the upcoming Chalk Paint® Workshops, so if you haven't registered, the link is below.

P.S. - My October 15th Chalk Paint® Workshop in Richmond is full - but, I still have room for my Saturday, October 19th Workshop in Irvington. Click HERE for more information and to register.