The Framers Forum

I've been experimenting with flaky paint effects. In this one I was trying to simulate an old shed door.

It's quite enjoyable to do. 8

There is a specific picture for which it is intended. I post the finished article later.....

Yes, I really like that

I always think it can be difficult to replicate real distressing/aging that's happened through the proper passing of time, I've done a few things but it always just looks like I've painted on some stuff and then sanded a bit off.

Flakey paint has got to be one of the most difficult paint finishes to reproduce and takes a lot of experience and know how to even attempt such a finish. I've never attempted such a finish myself, I got my own thoughts about how I attempt a flakey paint finish, but even coming close to making it look real is a real big deal.

I can do cracked gesso finishes, (that's not so difficult), flaking bits off in a way that looks believable is something very different. How do you make the bits where the paint has flaked off look like the real thing? I've got admit that I don't know and I have to say that to even work out how you would attempt this is not an easy task.

I think this is one of those WOW finishes, that most of us, would struggle to even have a go at, let along succeed at.

Most impressed - great result!

That's the work of someone who knows what he's doing,

Yes and even then it is not easy. Can you see how this effect is influenced by the grain on the wood used for the moulding? Even choosing the right type of wood matters quite a bit. If I was doing this, I would have taken a few short cuts, which Prosperro has not taken and this makes the results all the more remarkable.

I've been doing hand finished paint finishes for years and believe me, I know that stuff like this is not easy for anyone to do, especially when you are doing this, for the first time and this was for the first time. Have a good look folks and be inspired. I like how Prosperro has allowed the grain of the wood to affect the way that how the paint has flaked away in much the same way that it would be I this was a real aged and weathered result.

Try this for water based paints:
Add come corn starch to the paint when it is being mixed.
Paint with a brush in the normal way. Let it dry.
Apply heat with a hair dryer or heat gun. Apply the heat in a controlled pattern (randomly).
The paint layer will crack and flake off.
Continue distressing with coarse wire brush, sandpaper or whatever.

The finished article.

I think it works. The customer hasn't seen it yet.

That's how to do a flakey paint frame. Congrats!

Fantastic finished article

I would love it in my home.

Peter.

A paint effect that implies age, only works to the extent of how much the effect is believable. A paint effect like this stretches one's ability to make it believable, to such an extent that very few can make it believable. When is why this example is so special. Look and believe! You won't see a better example of creating a contrived effect while also making it look believable. Hand finished effects don't get much better than this!

Understated, but classy in a way that is undeniable.