antique techniques

[macktruck]

I wondering what method everyone uses to antique their carvings.
I saw in a WCI issue boiled linseed with some burnt sienna oil paint and dip it.
I use craft paints (water based) and I do a dark wash before i seal it. Any other ideas or techniques?
macktruck

[MelNM]

Theres some antiquing methods on the holiday thread, I had the same question. After painting the carving then seal it with a satin varnish, Then apply a Minwax Gel stain, (I use antique oak) then wipe it off with a rag. Owlhause has a recipe for the stain he uses also, I believe its in the holiday section also.

[Donna_T]

Hi Mack,
Just like everything else that we do with carving, there are several ways to antique carvings. Â*For some carvings, especially people, I like to do the thin, thin washes of acryllic or water color for painting---then dip or liberally brush on the boiled linseed oil mixture. (I usually use about a pea-sized drop of burnt umber oil paint, thinned first with about a teaspoon of the b.l.o. then mixed well with about a pint of boiled linseed oil.) Â*I let it soak in for about 5 minutes, the wipe off WELL with a soft cloth. Â*After it 'cures' for about a week in fresh air (it stinks!) I rub it for several minutes with a wadded up piece of brown sack (like a grocery sack.) Â*This brings a rich patina to the carving.

The original way I antiqued a painted carving was to seal it first with a light spritz of clear, matt acryllic spray. Â*While it dries, I mix a pea-sized blob of burnt umber acryllic paint with about two tablespoons of water. Â*I brush this on the carving and wipe it down with a soft dry cloth. Â*If too much antiquing stays on the carving, I dampen a corner of the cloth and wipe the too-dark areas with it until I get the level of antiquing I desire.

The third and final way I antique is with Plaid brand antiquing medium. Â*It comes in a little bottle in the Walmart craft paint section. Â*I think it comes in different colors and I can't remember the one I use. Â*With the last two processes, I again seal it with a spritz of acryllic.

I've tried the colored minwax and stain gels and the above are the ways I usually rely on to get the 'old' look. Â*Again, I mostly use antiquing on people carvings - both in-the-round and relief, but I never use it on animals that I have carved and burned hair textures on or birds. Â*

If in doubt, try to duplicate some of your carved/painted looks on a scrap board and try each of the above techniques on it before you apply it to your carving. Â*

Donna T

[macktruck]

Thanks Donna and Mel.
I'll try those ways
macktruck

I don't use any sort of 'antiquing' medium, but I shade the desired areas while I'm painting with burnt umber or black, depending on the intensity I want. Side-loading it onto the brush with lots of water, gives you a shadow that fills a recessed area and gradually fades away. I find this the most 'controllable' way to achieve an antique effect without turning the whole carving darker.

Teri

[Callynne]

Hey MackTruck, I use the FolkArt Brand Antiquing Medium, I get it at Wal-Mart. I tried mixing up and using the linseed kind but it didn't work well for me...obviously something I did wrong!! Thankfully, for once, I tried it on a scrap piece of painted wood instead of my carving.
The thing I like about the FolkArt Antiquing Medium is that's it's waterbased so you can easily thin it or remove some if you get it too dark. It dries right away and doesn't have any lingering odor. Experiment around and let us know what you recommend! Good luck! Callynne

[dart]

I have used strong tea. It soaks into the wood and kind of fades. No smell to it and it dries fast. Non toxic too.

[Kenny_S]

I use the Folkart brand in Black and the brown. Easy to water down and use the dry brush technique.

[macktruck]

thanks for all the different ideas on antique methods.
looks like i need to carve some more so i can try them all!
macktruck

[woodenleg]

I've used the boiled linseed oil with burnt umber paint a number of times and I don't like it at all. There are so many cautions about the flammable nature of this mixture that it isn't funny.

The lid sticks on the jar and you can hardly get it off.

I like using one of the brands of water base antiquing solutions -- after I have shaded the paint somewhat.