Tole and Decorative Painting
The broad term Tole and Decorative Painting really describes the
variety of styles, surfaces and painting techniques used in arts
and crafts.
Originally tole painting mainly applied to tin or metal, now
decorative painting is applied to just about any surface. Folk
Art was used to add color and decoration to household items like
utensils and furniture. The techniques have been passed down
from generation to generation. The new products available to
today's painters has expanded upon these techniques, mixed with
experimentation and creativity we are seeing everything popping
up from Primitive to ultra-modern. We have paints available
that allow us to work not just on metals, tin or wood but other
surfaces like glass, porcelain, candles and almost any fabric.
Finishes like Flaux allow us to create the look of marble, wood
or stone on almost any surface, just add to the exciting
possibilities.
Whatever your craft is, decorative painting can add color and
your own unique style to your work. You won't know until you
try. Check your local area for classes or your library for
beginner books or videos to get you started in whatever style or
technique that interests you.
A Few Tips To Get You Started
- Buy good quality brushes. For floating usually start with a
10,14 & 16; A liner brush 10/0; A good base coating brush or
sponge brush; A filbert brush, a 10 or 12; As you develop your
projects you will want to add specialty brushes like stipplers,
round or fan to build on your techniques.
- Perfecting your strokework or in essence learning to control
the brush is the basis for developing your techniques. Start by
learning the basics of strokework like the "S" for curving
lines; the circle for round objects; the "C" for filling in
round and oval shapes or forming shadows and highlights.
Strokework is the foundation for creating beautiful designs, a
great place to start.
- Select a paint that is suitable for the surface you want to
paint on. The paint could be watercolor, oils or acrylics, the
choice is yours. Acrylics are less expensive than oils, dry
faster and offer a wide range of ready made colors. If cost is a
factor, then while experimenting acrylics may be a good place to
start.
Decorative Painting Idea...
Rag-Dabbing or Ragging
This is a very easy painting technique
that creates a textural look similar to stucco.
It is done by using a bunched up rag (usually cheesecloth) and
the flat of your hand to press a second color onto a base coated
piece. When applying the second color, keep reshaping the rag to
maintain the creases that form the pattern. Lightly dip the rag
in the paint, do not saturate and dab out any excess paint
before you start. Then position the rag against the palm of your
hand and, keeping hand flat, press paint onto the surface.
Continue dabbing until you achieve the desired effect.
The final look is determined by your selection of the second
color. A lighter color than the base coat will create a frosty
look, a darker color perks up a neutral base coat adding
contrast. Ragging on a third color increases your decorating
options. The most common is to apply a lighter and a darker
color over a middle-tone base. Other combination options are a
light base with two darker accent colors, or accenting a dark
base tone with two lighter colors.
For other textural effects try ragging with plastic wrap,
terrycloth, or chamois. Apply a coat of clear polyurethane after
the paint dries to protect the surface and give it a tough
finish that can be wiped clean. You could use three entirely
different colors or three contrasting shades of the same color
for a decorator look on small pieces of furniture, wooden boxes,
picture frames, candlesticks, trays, toys, or any of your
favorite items that can be painted. Rag-rolling can also be done
by rag-covering a small roller nap to create other textural
effects.
Glossary of Decorative Painting Terms
Acrylic: a waterbased paint that dries quickly.
Antiquing: a technique used in finishing a painted item that gives an aged or darkened look to the paint. Available in sprays and cremes. Usually applied to the wood and then rubbed off.
Basecoat: color applied to an entire piece. Like a background color with other colors or detailing work being added to the piece. Usually one or two coats of paint.
Color: another word for paint.
Dry Brushing: technique of using a dry brush with a minimal amount of paint in it to add shading or highlighting details to a design. Brush is dipped in paint and using a paper towel most of the paint is removed from brush.
Fan: brush used to create texture; bristles are shaped like a fan, used dry or with only tips of brush loaded with paint.
Ferrule: metal part of a brush where the bristles meet the brush handle.
Flat: as in flat brush, ferrule is crimped or flat, used in stroke work, basecoating and shading/highlighting. Various sizes available.
Flip Float: floating one side, flipping the brush, and floating opposite side as in pant legs.
Float: one side of a flat brush is loaded with paint and the brush is stroked on palette until a blended color is achieved. Floating is used to shade or highlight.
Filbert: brushes used to create soft edges, blend colors, and has the shape of a flower petal or leaf.
Highlight: lighten a painted area as is the sun (light) was touching it. Gives a more realistic effect to painted piece. Color used to highlight is lighter than color being highlighted.
Gloss: as in finish/sealer; very shiny surface; gloss sealer is the final step to piece to protect the work from light and water damage.
Liner: brush that is round used to create straight or curved lines with consistency.
Load: as in load a brush; brush is dipped into paint and paint is stroked into brush.
Matte: as in finish/sealer; dull, non-glossy surface.
Round: as in round brush; ferrule is round, brush has pointed tip, used for stroke and detail work like conuna strokes, writing, vines, or eyelashes. Various sizes available.
Sealer: finish in spray or brushed on to seal raw wood before paint is applied.
Shade: opposite of highlighting; area is darkened to give the appearance of shadow or shading.
Stylus: tool to make dots of paint, emboss, or transfer a design. End(s) is small metal ball; tip end of brush can be used as a stylus.
Palette: colors used to create a design; palette paper is a coated paper designed to help blend colors, make washes, and is usually disposable. Also used as palettes are plastic lids, ceramic tiles, and freezer paper.
Technique: method used to achieve a specific look, texture, or feel to a piece, examples include: stripping, sponging, marbleizing, or antiquing.
Tint: light, transparent color; a hint of color.
Tole: painting on tin or metal.
Transfer Paper: paper coated on one side with gray, black, white, blue, or red material that aides painters in transferring a design to surface. Paper is placed color side down, design is placed on top of transfer paper, and a stylus or pencil is used to trace the design.
Wash: water is added to dilute paint making it lighter in color and transparent; wood grain can be seen through a wash.
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