Basic Tips on Painting (Laying the Paint) VIDEO

Quick access to The Purple Painted Lady™ video by clicking HERE .

This is a quick little post & video about brush strokes. I get emails often from friends after they have painted a piece and they complain they have blotchy paint or they have a segmented appearance in their paint. I then explain that although the paint is self- leveling, you need to help it. This is especially important if you prefer a traditional smooth look.

For example, if painting the top of a 5 foot wide side bar. I would apply the paint across of it in sections. Once I have paint covering from one side to another, I go back quickly with my brush and complete a final finish stroke where I lay the paint with one solid pass from one side all the way to the other without lifting my brush. This incorporates the “sections” I just painted individually and removes all of those disjointed brush marks. Keep in mind that Chalk Paint® dries 50% faster than latex- so you must do this as you proceed through your painting versus waiting till you are done getting paint all over an entire side. By then, paint may have started to dry and you run the risk of pulling it and giving it texture.

Some quick tips:

Thinning your paint with a little water will help- but no more than 20% though.
Start with less water …and mix till you get a consistency that you want. (remember- you can always add more water, but you only have so much paint- so be careful)
Using Distilled Water if adding directly to your quart and then planning on storing is best – since there is no bacteria.

Lastly- I made this video a few years back before Annie released her flat brushes that will really help you in achieving a smoother look- if that is what you are after!
(See them HERE)

 

The Purple Painted Lady Annie LARGE FLAT PAINT BRUSH
Blotchy Appearance

This is best explained by watching me paint- so click HERE to view the 2 minute video.

Here is a link to another post I wrote about blotchy looking paint and wax. Click HERE to read more.

Thanks and if this has been helpful- leave me a comment on my Facebook page HERE.

Laying of the paint video youtube

Facebook page HERE – we would LOVE to see them!

 

As for buying any of the products we mentioned earlier in this post- I hope that you select The Purple Painted Lady to be your one stop resource!
Now- let’s be honest- there are many places to buy from- what sets us apart is WHY we are here.
And the answer to that question- is that we are here to help you, our customers!  We want you to be successful!  And, just so you know, when you place an order with The Purple Painted Lady:
SOME OF THE REASONS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE BEST:
*  If you order before 3pm EASTERN TIME any day Monday thru Friday – we will ship out your package that same day.
*  We ship orders out every since week day all over the US.
*  We offer the lowest flat rate UPS shipping cost so if you are one town away or 10 states away- the shipping cost is the same.
*  We have awesome follow up customer service, too!
And- it is my paint sales that keep me in business and allow me to be here to help you.  (my shameless but honest plug)    Here is a link to our on-line shop=>   http://shop.thepurplepaintedlady.com/
: )  And I will be here to help you as you progress through your future project!  And if I do say so myself- we offer the BEST customer service that you will ever experience!Lastly- if I was helpful to you- ….please consider leaving a positive review on my Facebook business page sharing your positive experience or thoughts about The Purple Painted Lady.  Here is a link to my Facebook page=>  http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Purple-Painted-Lady/291882785710    This really helps me!  (wink, wink!)
XO
Trish

The Purple Painted Lady™   ~  Come visit us:

At our MAIN STORE at 77 West Main Street in Macedon, NY 14502 OR

STARTING JULY 1st, 2015 ~ 650 South Ave. in Rochester, NY 14620 OR

3200 West Ridge Road in Rochester, NY 14626 (The Shops On West Ridge) OR

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(How did I get that business name you ask?……I started the business in my 1885 purple painted Victorian – and I LOVE to paint – so the business name just fits perfectly!)

Chalk Paint® Has So Much Functionality!

I always enjoy hosting our Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan BASICS Workshops. First, I get to meet people who are creative, fun and obviously, enjoy their lives. But also because I always learn something new myself.

In a recent BASICS Workshop, as always- everyone creates their own sample boards to take home. While making them and completing the class steps, I encourage each student to have fun and try something new, perhaps from something different from what the person sitting next to them is doing. We are always impressed with how amazing the pieces come out and also – how different they can look by just doing one small thing different.

In class we create a sample board using two different colors, layering them and using a dry brush technique. Then we apply a dark wax glaze and some French Gilding Wax.

Typically we apply the dark wax glaze as the second to last step. We brush it on and then normally, wipe it off so the board is dry. And our last step is to apply the French Gilding Wax, which is that coppery metallic color on the sample board below.

Duck Egg over Primer Red

At our last BASICS Workshop, one of our fabulous students named Lauren- decided to approach this project slightly differently. She wanted to leave more of her Dark Wax Glaze on, instead of wiping it off. While the glaze was still moist, she continued to move to the next step of adding the French Gilding Wax. Again, the Mineral Spirits in the Dark Wax Glaze was still moist, so when she applied the French Gilding Wax- it caused it to be thinned out and basically, was like becoming a Gilding Glaze. Lauren also chose to apply her Duck Egg Blue paint minimally and blended it more into the Primer Red Chalk Paint® I think her piece looked fantastic!

Lauren BASICS Gilding Wax Glaze

Lauren’s look was more translucent and very funky! Oh, by the way, Lauren is the happy one in the background of the photo. (I think you can get the gist that we like to have fun in our workshops!)

Well, what I hope you take away from this post is:

1. Try using your Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan products in different ways! Explore making a wash, mixing paint into some Clear Wax, change the timing of when you traditionally apply or remove product. Don’t be afraid to play!

2. Workshops are a great way to expand your product knowledge. They are fun and you will get to meet some other fantastic and creative people!

3. You will always learn more from a hands-on workshops taught by a stockist compared to a video.

Thanks to everyone who came out for this workshop and I hope to get the opportunity to meet you at one!

Avoid a Blotchy Appearance in Your Chalk Paint® & Wax

A blotchy appearance can come from either a poor painting job, waxing in sections and not blending the areas in the final phase, or sometimes – over wiping wax off and causing some areas to seem buffed and other areas not. If after waxing your painted surface there are darker versus lighter areas or it looks blotchy, apply another coat of clear wax.  It is probably because the wax was not properly absorbed into the porous Chalk Paint®.  How do you know if that is the problem?  Simple.  Take your pointer finger and get enough wax on it like you are putting Chapstick on your lips.   Then, rub that finger over a lighter colored blotchy area of your paint.  Using your finger, rub it in the size of a half dollar and then fill in the circle with the wax.  Wipe off the excess was using a lint free rag.  Now….. look and tell me.  Is where you just applied the wax more uniform and darker?   If yes……I am confident to say that if you reapply an additional coat of clear wax – paying more attention to not miss a spot and having uniformed pressure, that the end result will look much better.

I received an email from a customer who painted the piece shown in the photo below and that is how this post began.

I feel that her project looks good, but she was disappointed in that she felt it looked blotchy. So, here are some tips and suggestions that if applied – will benefit everyone when approaching your project to avoid getting a blotchy look.

Let’s focus just on the raised panel sections shown here.   Blotchy Appearance cabinetWhen we begin painting a piece – often we will do short segmented brush strokes, but after you have painted a section – make sure to lay your paint or do a finish brushstroke from one edge all the way to the other.  (meaning from the top blue arrow all the way to the bottom blue arrow) This will create a fluid solid pass of paint and lay the paint in one smooth plane.  Some people may paint in small sections, especially on the sides of tall piece, so this is very important or you run the risk of seeing those broken brush strokes. To watch a video of me painting- demonstrating what I mean by “Laying The Paint” click HERE.

This same tip applies to when waxing.  Apply your clear wax as I instruct in the paperwork I include in your shipments or as shown on my website’s video HERE.  But then also- remember in the final phase of removing the excess wax –  always start at the top of the panel and wipe to the bottom, as so to blend the wax from the top blue arrow to the bottom.  Again, if you watch my video on how to apply wax- you will notice that the last couple times I wipe the drawer I am doing the demo on, instead of wiping in a circular motion- I wipe the wax in a straight line from one edge to the other of the drawer. I hope this make sense.

This tip is especially important when working with darker colored Chalk Paint®.

Just like black cars show off dings, dents or scratches more versus a white car- when working with Graphite, Napoleonic Blue or Emperor’s Silk, make sure to wipe off wax and buff in an even smooth and fluid approach- incorporating a section from one edge all the way to the other edge- if wanting more of a clean finish. The Buffing Brush that I sell at my shop and on-line – is very helpful with darker colors.  Click on the photo below if interested in purchasing an Ultimate Buffing Brush or to read more about why they are super helpful in general, but especially when working with darker Chalk Paint® colors.

Buffing Brushes

Besides the above- what also causes a blotchy appearance is when you are applying your first coat of soft wax. It is important to apply clear wax in thin and uniformed coats. When I say thin- I mean – not sparse- but rather a reasonable amount as so you are not wasting the wax since you then, after applying it- wipe the excess off. Something important that happens during your application of wax- is that the wax intensifies the paint as it is absorbed. You will literally see a deepening in the color of the Chalk Paint®. (the darker the color of paint, the easier it is to see) As you apply the wax- make sure the intensity is uniformed and happens to 100% of your painted area. Not just in some spots. You cannot always easily “correct” this after the wax has dried if you do have sections that the paint is lighter. Please apply the wax and as shown in my video- by gently pushing the wax into the paint. (please make sure to watch my video since reading instructions is very different then seeing someone actually do it.)

 

Please click here to watch my video!
 

We have two different size Wax BUFFING Brushes at our shop that are used to create a uniformed sheen on your painted pieces after you have applied wax and removed the residual and the wax has dried. Buffing brushes are not for applying wax!

So, after you have applied your wax and removed the residual and the wax has dried so it is no longer tacky….the final part of your project may be to buff the surface to achieve your desired sheen. The more you buff- the higher the sheen. Also- experiment with buffing strokes. During the final buffing phase- buff from one side, all the way to the opposite side (end to end.)

Wax Buffing Brushes are perfect for that! And the result is much more uniform than using a rag with your hand – which sometimes shows where your fingertips were applying the most pressure. (this can happen more commonly when using dark Chalk Paint® colors)

The Wax BUFFING Brushes are great for flat surfaces, chair and table legs. They are made of a soft, high-quality natural bristle that will not scratch finished surfaces. The brush is a comfortable size to hold, and being that it is an oval shape- it fits nicely and comfortably in the palm of your hand without straining your muscles in your thumb. There is also a strap across the top to slide your hand under.

We have buffing brushes in two sizes:

1. At $25.95 we have the 6.75 inches long X 2.75 inches wide in the center. The height when sitting flat is about 1.75 inches. Click HERE to purchase.

2. At $30.95 we have the 8.5 inches long X 2.75 inches wide in the center. The height when sitting flat is about 1.75 inches. Click HERE to purchase.
Buffing BrushesHeight of buffing brush

And remember- just because you use a Buffing Brush does NOT mean you have to have super shiny pieces! You control the shine by how long you buff the piece. However, if you want a super shiny piece…after initially buffing with your brush. Take a nylon pantyhose- slide your buffing brush in to the foot of it – and buff again. The nylon causes a little more friction- and makes the final finish even shinier.

Everyone who uses this buffing brush during our workshops- always leaves with one.

I received a question via Facebook from a customer who experienced streaking – I thought I would share my responses to her here – in hopes it may help some of you also:

Streaks in Wax page 1

Streaks in Wax Page 2

Streaks in wax page 3