Painting Techniques
Antiquing
Used to create an antique effect on furniture. The antique glaze pools in any moulded or recess areas, highlighting the detail. These darker areas are known as patina. Patina is defined as either a green or brown film on bronze or similar metals that has been produced by oxidation over time, or on furniture a gloss or sheen produced by age and polishing.
Antique look is usually applied over white paint but can be done over any colour, and works best on pieces that has some detail.
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Distressing
Used to age painted surfaces giving the effect of being a worn and chipped over time.
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Crackle
Technique that produces a finish that looks like old cracked paint with older layers of paint showing through. It gives a weathered appearance and add texture
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French Antiquing
French Antiques in particular usually have ornate features or embellishments. French furniture develops with age, the gold leaf takes on a patina, and the paint ages to reveal the wood underneath. This look can be recreated using a combination of faux painting techniques.
Traditionally French antiques were finished in white or off white colour, with a darker tone underneath.
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Gilding
Also known as gold leafing, is a technique in which a thin layer of metal is applied to furniture. Traditionally gold leafing refers to gold, but with gilding gold, silver, copper, bronze or any other metal leaf can be used. An entire piece can be gilded or more commonly, gilding accent pieces to complement other techniques.
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Ragging
Faux paint technique that creates an illusion of texture on flat surfaces. Different finishes can be achieved using this technique.
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Scratching
A technique allowing the use of 2 or more colours. Scratching is used to allow one or more base colour to show through, giving an effect of the top layer of paint having “peeled” off letting the “old paint” come through.
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Custom
Pieces can be customised using any of the techniques, along with other options such as staining, stencils, decoupage, etc.
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