Preparation
Preparation
Applying Gesso
Seal
Preparing Second Hand Furniture
Prepare your piece
- If you are working on a wooden piece, lightly sand any rough spots. Fill very rough spots and holes with Liquid Nails, Timber Putty, or similar product, then sand. Wipe with damp sponge.
- If you are working with terracotta, lightly sand any rough spots and wipe with damp sponge.
- If you are working with bisqueware, lightly sand any rough seams and wipe with damp sponge.
- If you are working with glass plates or bowls, clean thoroughly with vinegar or methylated spirits.
- If you are working with crockery, clean thoroughly with vinegar or methylated spirits.
- If you are working with soap, carve off any rough edges with a scalpel.
- If you are working with eggs (from hens to ostriches), wash carefully with warm soapy water to remove any dirt.
- If you are working with candles, click here.
Applying Gesso
Gesso is a substance used to create a perfectly smooth and blemish-free surface to work on. There are several brands on the market: Jo Sonya, Liquitex, Matisse. There are also coloured gessoes available from those suppliers.
You can apply gesso to wood, bisqueware and eggs. To get a really smooth surface on a piece that is very rough, I usually apply 4-6 coats of gesso. Lightly dry sand each coat and wipe off the dust with a damp sponge. After the last coat, wet sand with 1000 sandpaper. The gesso will be gooey but when it dries the surface is smooth.
You can mix paint with the gesso to make your own coloured gesso.
Gesso can really make a difference on wooden boxes with rough routed edges. These do not sand well but with gesso and sanding they become smooth, therefore requiring fewer coats of varnish in the end.
Most times you need only wipe the gesso on with a piece of old t-shirt and wipe off. This leaves a thin layer on the piece. Lightly dry sand with 1000 sandpaper and you will feel that it is very smooth. Proceed to the painting stage.
Seal
If you have gessoed something you do not need to seal it.
- If you are working on a wooden piece and not using gesso, seal with one coat of Liquitex Gloss Medium & Varnish.
- If you are working with terracotta, seal inside and out with 2 coats of Liquitex Gloss Medium & Varnish.
- If you are working with bisqueware, no sealing is required if the piece is glazed inside. If it is not glazed inside, seal with 2 coats of Liquitex Gloss Medium & Varnish inside only.
- If you are working with glass plates no sealing is required.
- If you are working with crockery no sealing is required but you can use bonding medium to create a better surface to work on.
- If you are working with soap, seal with a coat of undiluted PVA glue or 2 coats of oil-based varnish (try both and decide which you prefer).(see also the Tips page)
- If you are working with eggs no sealing is required.
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THE PROCESS~~~PREPARATION~DESIGN~
SUPPLIES~FINISHING~IRON ON~
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ADVANCED TECHNIQUES~~~CLOISONNE & ILLUMINATION~GILDING~
UNDER GLASS~WORKING ON EGGS
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