I was lucky enough to get the chance to attend an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshop a few weeks ago at a fun shop here in central Indiana. I’ve never used this paint and was thrilled to get a chance to try it out!
This paint is super easy to use, but there are some different techniques and ways of doing things, so the hands on experience was really helpful.
I came home all amped up with plans of painting all kinds of stuff in the house running through my head! And then I couldn’t decide on just the right item to start out with, until I noticed the Goodwill stool that’s been sitting in the garage for a year now:
I decided it would be the perfect item for me to experiment on. Buwhaahahaha.
Taps fingers together, cackles.
OK, it wasn’t really like that, it was more like a squeal, some clapping and a little hop because I was so excited to have finally decided on something. ;)
I kept hearing that you don’t have to do any prep with this paint – no sanding, no priming. It was so hard for me to believe, but I didn’t do anything to this stool other than clean it off.
I wanted to do a little layering of colors, and used the free samples I got from the workshop. I started with the Paris Grey color:
I used a regular paint brush and went to town – and that’s when I realized one of the bonuses of this paint – it goes on so easily and it shows brush marks:
Yes, I said brush marks are a good thing.
So let me tell you, that part was a little hard for me. For years all I’ve done is try to avoid brush marks. So it’s a little hard to get used to and it’s definitely a “look” – if you don’t like this look it may not be for you. I gotta say I loved it in the end, so hang in there if the brush marks are giving you hives. :)
Anyway, I kind of liked that look on a piece like this, because I went into it knowing it didn’t need to be perfect. I just brushed the paint on and didn’t worry about making it super smooth.
Another thing you need to get used to – this paint dries FAST. Really fast. You do need to watch that you get each spot well enough the first time so you don’t have to go back over it – it will “pull” a bit. This is the case for any paint though – you just need to work a bit quicker than with a latex.
I was inspired by another smaller stool I already have, so I cut out a “1” on my Silhouette machine and stuck ‘er on:
I realized later that I was so focused on making sure the number was centered on the top that I didn’t center it on the rungs of the stool. Drats. It’s only slightly off but that’s enough to drive me slightly nutty. :)
I left the stencil on, then painted the whole chair with my second color, Duck Egg Blue – then I peeled off the stencil.
I was left with the grey color showing through, and it was time to sand:
I started with a fine grit sandpaper and ended using a medium grit to really get it distressed. As always, I went for the spots that would normally get some wear and tear:
I went a little lighter on some spots with it so it just brought some of the grey through, instead of down to the wood.
If a piece is going to get any kind of wear, you really need to use the soft wax on it as a final step. A frame would be fine just to paint and hang, but a table, chair, anything like that, should be finished off with a wax:
You can see above that the wax deepens the color, which I liked a lot. It made it the perfect blue color! And of course it deepens the wood grain color coming through the distressing.
You really need to mush that wax into the piece – I just swirled it around all over. The nice thing is you can easily see where it’s covering. It also rocks that you barely have to use any wax:
You want to make sure to not leave a film on the piece – it needs to be wiped down thoroughly. Sasha at ReStyled showed us how if you can run your finger across it and see a mark where you did so, there’s still too much on the item.
If you leave too much on there it will take forever to dry, or may not dry completely. Because of this you don’t have to use much at all -- I barely even touched my wax for this project. I have no doubt the one container of wax will last me years and years.
The wax protects the paint and the surface, much like a poly. I liked the finish when I was done – it’s very smooth to the touch and you can just tell it’s a protective finish by feeling it:
I ADORE this little stool and how it turned out! I love the color, the distressing, the No. 1 on the top:
So darn cute!! You can see what I’m talking about with the brush marks in the pic above. It doesn’t bother me at all on this stool, but I’ll have to see how I feel about it on a bigger piece, like a dresser.
In the end, I loved this paint! I was a little surprised – I’m not sure why. It’s very easy to use. And there’s so many cool looks and techniques possible because of the layering of colors, the way it distresses, the dark wax option…and I LOVE that you can use it on anything without prep work. From what I understand, it can go right on top of oil or latex paint.
The next item I want to use it on is oil-based, so I’ll let you know how that goes. :)
There is the cost issue of this paint though – I used samples for the stool and it is true what I’ve heard, you need to use very little. I did one coat of each color and both covered beautifully. I’ve heard over and over that one quart will paint numerous pieces – so that is a good thing. So…I until I try it out on a bigger item I can’t speak to that. And you can skip primer so that is a cost saver…
Overall? I will be using it again. I’m excited to try it out on a dresser in our bedroom, so I’ll be sure to share more about that project.
I really loved how it transformed a regular stool:
Here’s the before and after:
Here are some common chalk paint questions:
Q. Will it cover over peeling paint or should it be sanded first?
Peeling paint should be removed -- but no need to break out the power sander. Just use a sanding block to get rid of the flakey paint.
Q. What else should I do to prep for chalk paint?
You should have a clean surface for the paint to adhere to. Kitchen cabinets, furniture, etc. must be degreased and cleaned well before you start.
Q. How to prevent the pink tones or bleed through on mahogany?
Use a clear shellac spray first, let dry and then paint your item. The shellac seals in the tannins in the wood.
Q. How long, if at all, should you wait between coats?
Wait until the paint is dry before adding another coat -- dry times will depend on the season or if you're painting inside or out. Overall about an hour is a safe bet.
Q. What type of brush should be used?
A natural bristle brush is the best choice.
Q. Is there a bad smell? Like if I did it inside, would my house smell like paint?
No smell because of the low V.O.C.'s.
Q. Can chalk paint be used on walls?
Yes! It will just get expense!
Q. How often do you have to put on a coat of wax? Just once, or every year, etc? If so, do you strip the old wax down and re-do or just brush wax on over the paint?
Two coats of wax are recommend for regular use items. High use items like kitchen tables require three coats of wax with 24 hours of dry time between coats.
Q. How often should I add a new coat of wax?
Add a new coat of wax around every three years.
Have you tried the Annie Sloan paint? What have you used it on?
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