[edit] Materials

• eggshell sheen enamel

• masking tape

• matt/flat acrylic paint

• crackle medium

[edit] Tools Needed

• brush and/or ruler

• spray bottle and water

• oil-based or water-based varnish

[edit] Method

Furniture

I The furniture to be decorated must be prepared with as many coats of background colour in eggshell sheen enamel (or eggshell acrylic) as are needed to be opaque. It is essential that the background is not porous and the background paint is absolutely dry be­fore crackle medium is applied.

2 If you intend to use the crackle medium as an inset, such as on these drawers, first mask out the area with masking tape. Once the tape is down (always run your thumbnail along the edge to ensure good bonding), apply the crackle medium. It is viscous and should be allowed to flow onto the surface rather than be painted on in the normal manner.

3 Make sure that the piece is horizontal, as the medium runs if on an angle and can make a mess. Allow the medium to dry. This can take from one to two hours to overnight, depending on the weather. Don't proceed to the next step until you are sure the medium is absolutely dry (it dries very flat and is often hard to see).

4 The paint used over the medium must be matt/flat acrylic. You can use a household acrylic paint, but sometimes good quality artist's acrylics are even better. Often a deep tint base household paint will not crack so well because it is too heavily pigmented. You need to try your paint and medium on a sample board first. If you want coarse, graphic crackling, use the paint straight out of the tin, with random brushstrokes. There must be no pressure on the brush. The loaded brush must glide over the medium. Keep reloading the brush. Crackling occurs in the direction of the brushstrokes.

5 If you want the fine, cobwebby crackling to show, thin the paint approximately two parts paint to one part water. Once you place the loaded brush, or roller (for ease of application in this instance), on the dried crackle medium surface, it must merely glide over the surface and be reloaded constantly. Speed is of the essence. So, very quickly apply the loaded brush to the surface, keep reloading and reapplying, using absolutely no pressure. Having applied all over, cover with the paint then lightly mist three to four times with a fine mist of water from a plant sprayer.

6 The crackling occurs as the paint dries, which is almost immediately. If you wish to protect this finish, use oil based or water based varnish. Water based varnish can reactivate the crackle medium, so be careful not to overwork it. However, once dry and matured for a few days, water based paint is very strong and, unless the piece of furniture receives a lot of wear, it is not essential to varnish.

[edit] Walls

A fabulous crackled, aged surface can be obtained on walls by using this medium. To be held satisfactorily on a vertical surface, the medium must be thinned one part crackle medium to one part water. It can then be painted onto a wall (must be non porous) and will dry without running.

The big trick with this wall finish is that the acrylic paint which is used over the top of the medium must be thick, otherwise crackling will not occur over the thinned crackle medium.

Once the medium is absolutely dry, the acrylic paint may be applied. It looks best if random brushstrokes are used and, again, the brush must glide over the surface so that the crackle medium beneath is not disturbed. In this case, the paint should be applied with a brush, not a roller. Crackling usually occurs in the direction of the brushstrokes, so bear this in mind as you work. Don't forget to cut out the masking tape with a blade, or you will peel the finish off the wall.