Stained Wood Finish

Chalk Paint™ lends itself to so many wonderful finishes.Here I am going to look at using it to create a stained look. Perhaps your wood has such a beautiful grain you can’t bring yourself to hide it. So here is the solution!

You can even combine colours to match your painted creation. Above left shows Florence and Old White joining together one over the other and then wiped back with a damp cloth to meld them together. The centre piece shows several colours - the bright depth of stronger pigments makes for a powerful look. Above you can see it with Amsterdam Green on the right and Emperor’s Silk in the centre.

So how can we achieve this? A little paint, alot of water, a good brush and a cloth or sponge is all you need before the lacquer or wax protective top coat.

A coat of Emperor’s Silk was applied with a brush in the normal way and left to dry. Then a damp sponge was gently wiped over the paint. This loosens the paint and begins to remove it. Rinse out the sponge regularly so as not to just wipe colour around the surface. You are aiming for an old worn look rather than a uniform wash finish.

The centre shows the subtle difference between the even finish using Old White as a wash/stain and wiping off a fully dried coat to create a more worn look.

In the third case, Amsterdam Green was diluted to almost a dirty brush water consistency and then applied over the whole surface. Unvarnished wood will accept the wash easily. An already treated piece will need sanding down to make a welcoming surface for the wash. Now work this in with a cloth, brush or sponge to create the finish you are seeking. For a more intense look you can add a second coat over the first.

An alternative, is to apply two coats of colour and then sand back to let the wood grain dictate the lovely look as above. The images show Duck Egg Blue and Old Ochre, one over the other.

Annie Sloan covers these techniques really well in her book “Quick and Easy Paint Transformations.” Remember, the back of your piece of furniture provides a perfect surface for you to experiment on. So go on have fun with your finishes!

xx Jane