Techniques
As a creative mind, the media and tools at your disposal are endless and your imagination is the limit.
Below, I am sharing a couple of key techniques that are essential to most of my finishes and that can be combined in a variety of ways to offer different visual, tactile and olfactory experiences.
Through the years, I have tried most of the market leading brands and creatively combined them into my signature sensory experiences.
Chalk Paint
A water based, decorative paint resulting in a chalky matte finish, generally obtained by combining pigments with calcium carbonate. I love its versatility, the depth of its matte tones and its casual and elegant look. I sometimes combine it with a crackling medium, to yield beautiful chippy finishes. With a layer of wax on top, I can cast a natural warm sheen. Alternatively, I may use a matte sealer for protection.
Milk Paint
Mostly made by combining pigments with caseine and lime, milk paint has been used for thousands of years and is very safe and non toxic. It comes in powder form and, with its runny and acquarel consistency, I find it ideal to create worn out finishes on top of a chalk painted or stained base. I love creating different colored layers on top of a gesso base and then distress it with water or glaze. Wax or a sealer will add protection and depth.
Waxes
Waxes provide protection to chalk and milk painted surfaces, but, more importantly, they provide an opportunity to build depth and drama. I like to use dark, black and cerusing waxes to create the illusion of worn out surfaces that stood the test of time, custom waxes to add shades and sophisticated patinas, scented waxes to complete the sensual experience.
Stains & Glazes
Stains penetrate the unfinished wood and can be used as basis for additional layers: they are a beautiful way to revive and recolor a tired or plain wood surface.
Glazes sit on top of the paint and add beautiful depth to a finish highlighting carvings, lines and other decorative elements. I love how glazes will stick in the crevices, making a sharper contrast that really draws your attention to the details. In addition, they give me a highly controllable way of adding an antiquing look. Glazes can be colored by mixing them with chalk paint, milk paint or pigments and even mica powders for a metallic effect.
Gilding
Gilding is the practice of covering an object or parts of it with gold leaf or other metals, such as silver or copper. This art form dates to the ancient cultures of Egypt, China and Japan. I typically use gilding as an accent on top of chalk and milk paint to create depth, intensity and contrasts and contribute to the worn out dramatic look.
Stencils
Stencils offer a very simple yet powerful and graceful way to add decorative patterns to a surface providing additional depth, movement and vibrancy. I generally combine chalk paint or milk paint with Venetian Plaster for my stencils to create a contrasting three dimensional effect: the plaster will tone down the paint and yield a washed out effect. Gel art inks offer a colorful alternative especially when pursuing more metallic finishes.