Faux Painting Decorative Finishing - Tips

Antiquing Patina - Antiquing patina is a water-based glaze that instantly ages newly applied paint. Mix acrylic scumble glaze with artists' colors like raw umber or burnt umber and a small amount of water. Apply multiple coats and wipe off with a rag. Leave the glaze here and there and in between the cracks for an aged appearance. An acrylic varnish can be used to finish.

Antiquing Question - Hi, I have recently painted my kitchen cabinets with a cream colored oil/alkyd based paint. I want to crackle them, and apply a brownish antiquing glaze over it lightly. are there any mediums that will work over oil base? Thanks.
Reply: I am not aware of any brands of crackle medium that are oil-based. Sorry.

Antiquing Question - I'm trying to do the antique look on my cabinets they are white what color should I paint them and what color glaze should I use? Please help, I love the country french look.
Reply: I would suggest buying a couple of different shades of white paint that you like. Buy small amounts of paint at Home Depot or even Walmart and if you don't like it on your sample you can just return it with your receipt or you will be given a store credit for the amount of purchace. Next, you can either buy a wood stain for your antiquing glaze or you can mix a glaze with your choice of an aged brown color latex paint and Floetrol.(three parts glaze to one part paint) Pick a brown that is not too red or too green and the same applies to wood stain. Paint a sample board with your white basecoat paint and let dry. Now, for the glazing. For the wood stain method you need cotton rags, a respirator(for fumes), and a stain brush. Brush the wood stain on the wipe of with the rags. When used on cabinets or furniture the stain will build up in the crevices as well. Leave or take off as much as you want. The paint and Floetrol method are basically the same except you have to keep a wet working edge so you don't get an undesirable, haloing effect. So, think ahead as to whether you need to tape off, ect.

Beer Glaze - Beer glazes are used to add a subtle tint to a freshly painted surface. They dry quickly and are useful for antiquing surfaces or objects. Mix 1 tblsp. pure universal tint like raw umber or burnt umber and 4 fl. oz. flat brown ale. For a more antiqued look, add extra sugar and pigment to the mixture to make it adhere better in the cracks and crevices.

Crackle Glaze Question - Can the crackling effect be used on steel entry doors? Thank you.
Reply: I think you could do a spray crackle version. As long as the paint can be used on metal. All of the other brush and roller crackles are for latex paints only.

Crackle Glaze Instructions - Here are some instructions I hope will help. First, lightly sand the surface with a low grit sand paper or for furniture or objects with hard to reach spaces use a product called Paso on it. Paso is a "liquid sand paper" for the lack of other words. Next, prime the surface with your primer paint, let dry according to paint label instructions for primer, usually an hour or two to 24 hrs., depending on the brand. Then, paint the basecoat color(this is the color that you will see in the cracks)on the primed surface and let dry according to the base paint instructions. Now, you brush or roll on the crackle medium (do not overwork the glaze, put it on area and move on to the next area.) Let dry until "tacky" (different brands of crackle will have different drying times-McCloskey's Crackle Glaze takes about an hour). Finally, apply the top coat with a brush or roller (a brush is easier to control for a beginner). Do not go over areas you have already covered with your brush, this will ruin the finish. Paint to just cover the specified area and move to the next without overlapping, as much as possible, on your previous area. Let dry. You may choose to seal it after 24 hrs. with a polyurethane varnish especially if it is in a high use area. Read all the labels of your products carefully and practice on a board or something first to perfect your technique and this will help you immensely.

Drybrushing Metal Patina Question - My staircase is now black. The handrail has some white showing through from previous painting. I want to redo the staircase and loved the metal patina look that you show on your website. This is contemporary home style in California. What can I do using the black as a base? How do I prepare the staircase and especially the handrail which has other colors showing through? Thank you so much.
Reply: First sand and do a flat black basecoat. Then, drybrush it with a high viscousity acrylic. Experiment on wooden dowels, stiles, srap pieces of wrought iron,... Good luck! I will be offering how-to videos and CDs soon.

Gold Leaf - Gold leaf, also known as transfer leaf, is available in gold, silver, and other varegated varieties. It can be applied to plastic, paper, metal, plaster, wood,...Surfaces should be clean and free of dirt, oil, or wax. First, sand the surface with a fine grit sandpaper or steel wool. Then, seal with gesso or a commercial sealer. (For porous surfaces like plaster, wood, or stone.) Don't forget the final sanding before the final acrylic clear coat. Most acrylic sealers come in spray form. Solvent based varnishes are fine as well. If you don't seal the final product the surface will tarnish over time. You can use this finish on small objects as well as decorative accents or on a recessed ceiling for drama.