Friday, May 25, 2012

Verdigris Tutorial

   Here it is, the promised Verdigris 'Faux like a Pro' tutorial. I knew I wanted to do something old-world style. I get most of my best ideas from objects or architecture. Now I look at an old spoon or painted pot differently. I often ask myself "I wonder if I can duplicate that color scheme or look."

    I certainly can't take all the credit for my wonderful dresser, like I mentioned I got a lot of my inspiration from Shelly, check out her cute blog. I found her picture through Google- I felt like out of all the faux verdigris picture, hers looked the most realistic to me.


   I prepped my piece with the usual simple green solution to clean off the old dirt and grime, then a little sanding here and there. Then I spray painted the entire piece with gold spray paint. I was hoping to go for a darker, more copper or bronze look, but the store I went to was out. It was one of those days I wasn't going to take another trip to the store. My husband was digging just the gold look. Sorry honey, that's just not my style :)

   I chose to use Provence and Antibes Green Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. They looked very similar to Shelly's colors to me and I already had them on hand. I began working in sections by dabbing green and blue spots everywhere.  I was careful to use a dry brush technique and wipe off my brush on the side of the can. I noticed too much of the paint was a problem. I tried to do more blue than green but I think I really kept mixing in green until I felt I had the color I liked. I used an old small 1/2 in craft brush from the Wal-mart. Nothing fancy. Then I just did crazy dabbing all different directions. After I had the whole dresser sufficiently covered and then paint was dry I was ready for the next step.


Shelly mentions using Gesso. Gesso is a white chalky paste used to prime canvases and other surfaces for oil or acrylic paint. Hmmm... it sounded a lot like chalk paint to me. (Small side note: I looked it up on the Web and found out that villabarnes.blogspot.com was using it to paint furniture. I just bought some to try out for myself). I didn't have any Gesso at the time, so I just watered down my ASCP Old White and brushed it on everywhere.  Before it completely dried, I used a spray bottle with water and misted the top coat. Then I just dabbed some of the excess water off. I really loved they way some parts looked with a dripping white film. It reminded me so much of what rain would do to a statue over time. When the white was dry, I used a a copper glaze, covering the whole piece in sections. I would quickly wipe away the glaze with a clean damp rag.

When it was all dry, I applied clear wax and did a small amount of distressing. I loved the darker brown color to show through but I also didn't like that you could tell it was wood so I kept the distressing to a small amount. This whole process was fairly quick and didn't take me much more time then a regular paint job would.


I'm going out of town for a few days up to Wyoming to visit some family. My dad is a great photographer and I'm hoping he can teach me to get a great shot. I'd love a beautiful horse photo to have printed on canvas and hung as art in my home. Come back to see my photos on Tuesday. Also tomorrow with the help of my husband, I will have some pics of a desk I finished today.

Jenine


Linking back to...
linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
www.kammyskorner.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
www.theshabbycreekcottage.com
missmustardseed.com
romantichome.blogspot.com
www.funkyjunkinteriors.net
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

29 comments:

  1. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I KNEW you started with A metallic!!!!! This is so great and so appreciated...you are a CHALK PAINT™ rock star.

    Enjoy the weekend because you just made mine!

    janet xox
    The Empty Nest

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful! I was just at Rona, and picked up a can of copper spray paint to buy and was on my way to buy gesso from Michaels and all the supplies, and thought... naw I will wait till I see the tutorial! So glad I did cause I have it all at hand! Just need a 5 dollar can of metallic spray paint! You have opened up a new trend I think!!!! I THINK! I THINK!I THINK! Enjoy your weekend cant wait to see whats next! Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautifully done! Love this finish for furniture!

    ReplyDelete
  5. REally love how your dresser turned out~I want to find a piece to do this technique on. It is GORGEOUS!!! THank you for sharing how you did it! I shared it on my Maison Decor FB page.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Georgeous, beautiful, stunning. Always loved this paint effect and will definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing such a detailed tute:O)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Can't wait to see what you all come up with. It will be interesting to see if this does start a trend in blog world.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful textured patina on her! Just lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow! GREAT job, Jenine!!! I love your technique and the colorful patina!!!! :)

    xoxo laurie

    ReplyDelete
  10. New to your blog. I LOVE the color on this!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Adding to my to-do list! Hope mine turns out half as good as yours!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is gorgeous. Following your lovely blog so I can see more. Saw you featured at Savvy Southern Style.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a fun idea!! Came over from Kammy's Korner linky party and so glad I did!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have seen your pieces a few times on Vegas Craigslist and I have to say that you defiantly have a talent. Love your style. Karen

    ReplyDelete
  15. Found your blog through Shabby creek. LOVE this dresser! I may have to try this! :) We're your newest followers... ashley & jourdan @ www.littleyellowbarn.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is just stunning! Thank you for the GREAT tutorial! It sounds like a lot of work but the results are fabulous! Janet is right... You are a rock star!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gosh...I just LOVE all the layers of paint that you used on this piece...it is GORGEOUS! Thank you so very much for sharing your technique with us. I saw your blog post at "Funky Junk Interiors".

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for doing this tutorial. Your finish is fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is amazing! I love it and will definitely be trying this technique in the future!! Thanks for the great tutorial. Following now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love how you painted this dresser and shared how! I have these colors in my bedroom, and I am ready to try this on a dresser I have been hesitant to work on. Beautiful job!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I just saw this picture on Pinterest. What a great faux finish. Following you now.
    Traci

    ReplyDelete
  22. oh i am so in love with your piece . i have my gradmas old bedroom furniture and its yellowed so bad. this is darling. want to see what my daughter thinks if she wants it for her new baby grace. will show you if i do it. thanks again for your help wish you lived in michigan

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is just gorgeous. I found this on Pinterest. You are quite talented. Thanks for sharing the lovely tutorial. -K

    ReplyDelete
  24. LOVE this, and surprised its so simple (at least you make it sounds that way!). So its been over a year since you created this verdigris dresser .... do you still have it in your home, or have you done any new verdigris pieces? Anything you would have done differently (or did differently)? Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I want to try this! I am confused as to what copper glaze is. Can you tell me what you used? Also you never mixed the two paint colors correct? Just dabbed in sections? Like painting polka dots? Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sorry, I'm a little late to this party. However, the gold makes all of the difference. This piece is sensational. I'd love to see what it looks like in your room...

    ReplyDelete