SKIP TO VINEGAR PAINTING TECHNIQUE VIDEO TUTORIAL
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Of course, this look that features some of my favorite blues and grays and was curated based on a nautical theme, complete with a weathered under the sea feel.
How to Create a Drippy Finish Using a Vinegar Painting Technique
So, let me share how you can use these materials to create your own nautical-inspired furniture finish with this unique vintage painting technique.
Gray primer
Surf Prep sander
Paint in smokey quartz, Icelandic mist, mermaid kiss, river rock
Wax in gray and black
Liquid gold leafing
Mosaic silk screen stencil
Nautical theme transfer
Satin clear coat
Brushes
Sanding sponge
Misting spray bottle
Clean and Prime
I started my piece with a base coat of Primer in gray. When cleaning this piece with White Lightning, it wiped dirty brown rag after rag. The Boss will create a barrier to
Laying Color Placement with The First Coat
Next is a coat of my 4 paint colors- in shades of gray and blue. I applied them using vertical brush strokes overlapping each other from light to dark. This way, when I use the vinegar painting technique the light colors will contrast as they drip into the darker shades.
The first coat looks a little messy, but it is the perfect base for this technique!
The next step is where we get to add a fun drippy vinegar painting technique.
Second Coat with a Unique Vinegar Painting Technique
As I lay my second coat, adjusting the order of the colors so they were overlapping the next in line, I spritz the paint with a 50/50 water and vinegar mix. The vinegar causes the paint to separate and drip in fine fingers that look like lightning strikes, and reveal a contrasting color underneath.
For example, the smokey quartz is painted to layer over the icelandic mist. The Icelandic mist over Mermaid kiss. And Mermaid kiss over river rock.
Shop painting supplies and more of my favorite things in my Amazon Shop!
See those colors peeking through as the vinegar causes the separation??
Work with smaller sections to have more control over the drips. Play with the paint and have fun working with it as you add and adjust the layers.
Wax Details
Next are some black wax details to frame out the drawers on this piece. I applied Wax in black with a natural bristle artist’s brush and buffed it out a bit to accentuate the vinegar painting technique.
In one way or another, the majority of my furniture projects get a touch of black wax. I used it on raw paint before sealing on this piece. If you are a little nervous and want more control of how much wax you want to wipe back, I recommend using wax after the sealing process.
Learn more about furniture wax and how it differs from furniture glaze HERE.
Apply Furniture Transfers
After you have your colorful drippy finish, it’s transfer time! I wanted to hang the compass rose designs, like nautical stars, from threads of gold down the from of the piece. A bit of liquid gold for my strings and they don’t look like they’re “floating” in space.
Get all my Tips for Applying Transfers to Furniture HERE.
… And Stencils!
I added the Mosaic Silk Screen Stencil as hardware backs on the opposite side to balance with the transfers. Then, I applied a simple coat of rich gold spray paint on the wooden knobs and finished them in a high sheen spray lacquer.
How to Use Silk Screen Stencils.
Finish to Suit
This nautical-inspired piece was finished up with painted drawer sides, pieces of multimedia nautical print sprinkled throughout, and sealed in Satin Clear Coat.
It was really fun to let myself be free with this unique paint finish.
What do you think, a new wave of nautical?? And all available in one kit with a video tutorial, it doesn’t get much simpler than that!
Catch the full Vinegar Paint Technique process on video Here
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