Creating Patina With Paint

I have been playing around with paints more than usual lately.

One reason is that I was recently introduced to Heirloom Traditions paint.

I have used several chalk type paints before, but this is by far my favorite.

And one of the reasons I am now selling it.

Not only is it a wonderful paint but an amazing company too!

I will never endorse or support a product that I would not use or believe in.

And when the company is as good as Heirloom Traditions it’s a win-win!

I decided to do an experiment to see if I could get a more authentic patina with paint and dark wax.

Creating patina with paint is very easy to do, let me show you how.

I had this old stool, I think it may be a milking stool.

It was already painted white.

I took out my Heirloom Traditions paint in Nickle.

I applied the paint thick, and in small sections at a time, then took my hair dryer on highest setting  and dried the paint.

As I was drying the paint I was moving the dyer back and forth, not letting it sit on the paint.

I also did not put the hair dryer too close to the paint.

As I did this I noticed that the paint was starting to crackle and craze.

Now this is nothing new, I have used this technique in the past.

But I have never tried this technique before.

By only doing a section at a time, and applying it thick, it was looking more authentic.

As though this piece has been painted over and over again.

I even embraced the brush and drip marks.

I continued doing this on the whole stool, front and bottom.

Then I took out my dark wax in Muddy Pond, and applied it to my stool, using a cotton t-shirt rag.

I really worked the wax into all the cracks and crazes, applying in a circular motion.

See all of those cracks and crazes, and brush marks and imperfections?

This dark wax really brings it out.

So I continued doing this on the entire piece.

I love how authentic this looks and feels.

Can you see the pink table that this stool is on and the door in the back ground?

Those are authentic chippy pieces, you can compare and see how these look together.

Pretty close, don’t you think?

This technique does take a little time because you are doing a little section at a time.

One think you must remember is that when you are creating a piece to look vintage you cannot worry about perfection.

Just throw perfection right out the window.

Have fun and create.

Look at an old piece of furniture that’s been painted with layers of paint.

You will see brush marks, you will see some drips, it’s all part of the patina.

This little stool is on of my favorite recent creations!

I am now thinking I may try this on my pantry door.

Yes, the door I recently covered with layers of paint.

But I think this technique may just kick it up a notch!

Although a big piece like that might take a little more time.