AboutJoanna Scott Expertise I can answer questions on mural painting using both airbrush, traditional and Trompe L`oeil techniques, which trick the eye, and how to create a convincing Trompe L`oeil work on any surface.
I can also answer questions relating to the field of commercial art, particuarly illustration. How to approach clients who commission illustration, how to network and build a portfolio of work.
Technical questions on kitchen design and installation for the UK market is also an area of speciality.
Experience
Past/Present clients Harrods textiles), Selfridges(textiles),Halcyon Days Mayfair Ltd(fine enamel box designs),Duxford Imperial War Museum(airbrush mural of aeroplanes)Just Kitchens W1(kitchen design), Furlong Homes(Trompe L'oeil window),Harman Kemp North American Ltd(caricature Christmas cards).
Expert: Joanna Scott Date: 4/11/2008 Subject: Painting furniture
Question QUESTION: I would like to paint various pieces of furniture - some was purchased painted (albeit in the 1940s), some is unpainted, but finished (varnished?). I'm hoping to paint it all an off-white, with some kind of crackle or aging effect. Any suggestions?
ANSWER: Dear Connie,
I'd suggest that you get the furniture stripped of all the old varnish first and sanded.
Then I would use a water based wood paint like a satinwood (oil paint tends to yellow with age and this can look ugly on cream furniture) .
Paint two coats over the entire piece. Then using an acrylic paint colour, a deep red, or green - or a metallic gold or pewter gilding cream highlight some of the edges and pronounced details of the piece of furniture - the more intricate the furniture the better this 'distressed' and aged look is.
The benefit of this is that it is much more controllable than crackalure in effect.
I would varnish the whole piece with a waterbased varnish to protect it at the end of your work.
Hope this helps
Thanks
Joanna
www.joanna-scott.co.uk
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for the info. I do have another question. The room I'm decorating for which I'll be using this furniture dictates an off whiten colour for the furniture. Could I also use an off-white acrylic gilding cream (does it even exist?) instead of red, green etc.? Is the gilding cream what gives it an aged look?
Answer Dear Connie,
The gilding cream would be better in a metallic tone of gold, then. The idea is that you use the gilding cream to accentuate the edges and carved details of a cream piece of furniture. So the main colour of the piece is cream with gold 'highlights' as it were.
Have a look at faux finishes by googling online - this should give you a few ideas.
Thanks
Joanna
