One of Jennifer Crusie's literary heroines, Tilda in Faking It, painted furniture as a hobby -- and naturally the author tried it herself to see whether it could be done. Now Crusie is a devoted furniture painter whose words of advice start with "Use really good-quality latex paint and really, really cheap brushes!" Scrubbing the paint in to the upholstery fabric will ruin the brushes, so you really don't want to sacrifice expensive brushes for this part of the project. And latex paint provides a durable surface on upholstered pieces. Here's Crusie's technique for painting a checkerboard pattern: - Stretch a length of 1' (or your preferred width) painter's release tape (a low-adhesion tape, generally blue in color, that is ideal for smooth or delicate surfaces) horizontally across the surface, which has already been painted with a base coat. (Note: A darker shade of the base color will be used to create the checks.)
- Place a second strip of tape vertically, at right angles to the first.
- Lightly stick another horizontal piece beside the first (this "spacer" piece will help you position the tape evenly) and add another horizontal piece of tape beside that one.
- Remove the spacer tape and keep repeating this sequence (figure A), vertically as well as horizontally, until the entire surface is taped off in a checkerboard pattern.
- Paint over the surface with the darker color, let dry completely and remove all the tape. (Note: If you remove painter's tape within seven days, it won't pull the paint off with it.)
- Crusie fills in the blank squares by stamping a design in each one (figure B).
Crusie also has some tried-and-true stamping techniques to share: - The best stamps to use for this type of project are the flexible sponge type, which will wrap around hard surfaces for a better finished product.
- The easiest way to use the flexible stamps, especially with multiple paint colors, is to brush the paint directly on the stamps.
- The main thing to remember when you're stamping is not to slide the stamp -- apply it to the surface and then pull it straight up to keep from smearing the design.
- For an overall pattern, remember to rotate the stamp each time for a more random appearance (figure C ).
Painted Computer Monito Drawing inspiration from Jennifer Crusie's painted TV (figure D), artist Suzette Ervin shows host Tracy Griffith how to paint a computer monitor. Materials:
Computer monitor
Masking tape
Copper metallic spray paint
Small blade
Round adhesive bandages
Blue spray paint
Tweezers Steps:
(Note: Be sure to have a window open or to do this project outside so that you don't inhale the fumes of the spray paint.) - Clean the computer monitor thoroughly -- paint won't stick to dirt.
- Use paper and tape to mask the monitor in all the places where you don't want paint, such as the screen and the vents.
- Use a small blade, such as a utility knife, to cut away any excess masking tape from areas to be painted (figure E).
- Apply a base coat of copper metallic spray paint (figure F) and let dry completely. (Note: Since this is the base coat, don't worry about total coverage. You'll be adding a second color on top.)
- As soon as the base coat is completely dry, place round bandages in patterns around the monitor (figure G). Be sure to press the edges down firmly so paint won't bleed under them.
- Apply a coat of blue spray paint and let dry.
- Once the paint is dry, unmask the back of the computer. Use tweezers to remove the bandages (figure H), then unmask the screen. That's all there is to it!
Web extra: More on painting furniture with Jennifer Crusie Did you study art in college?
I majored in about twelve different things. Once I was a geology major because the guy I liked was a geology major. It got to be my junior year and the advisor called me in and said, "You have to graduate and you have more art credits than anything else." So I became an art teacher -- sad. You make it a point to keep your hobbies simple. Why?
These crafts are completely mindless. You don't need to follow a pattern for the crochet. I'm not painting landscapes. I'm just painting chairs. So that I don't have to think about it and I can keep my mind free for the plot and just paint. Otherwise -- If I'm trying to follow a sweater pattern, I'll get all caught up in what I'm thinking in the plot and end up with a sweater where one sleeve is a yard longer than the other one. Is there some physiological connection?
I think there's always a connection with anything you do with your hands and your mind. I think there's probably just some kind of a physiological jumpstart that you think better if you're moving. Your blood flows better. Do you have a favorite thing you've created?
I don't think I ever really complete any of these. Someday I'll put a pattern on this chair. The television will never be finished. The craft projects really aren't the point. They're the things I do as I'm thinking. A favorite ongoing project?
Painting the TV is a nice project, because I can hit a snag while writing and just get up and walk away from the computer, and paint a couple of squares on the TV or decide I want to change the color. But it's always geometric, so I never have to put any thought in it. How is painting a chair different than writing?
Painting itself is very similar to writing. Art and music and literature all come from the same places and all have the same basic patterns to them. But this isn't art. This is painting a chair! Did you do any research about furniture painting before starting?
Not really. I think people tend to seize up when they start to work on crafts on their own if they don't have a lot of background in it. And they read instruction books and they follow patterns and they make sure they're doing it right. But there isn't any right way. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, do it over! Any hints on starting to paint furniture?
The key to painting upholstered furniture is to always make sure you're painting something that's on its way to the dump anyway. So if it doesn't work out, all you're out is a can of paint. I think the really exciting things happen in crafts when you go places that nobody's gone before -- when you say, "I wonder what would happen if I did this?" You also collect things that your characters collect, like snowglobes. How do you find them?
Ebay. Thank God for Ebay!
RESOURCES :
Stampcraft: Dozens of Creative Ideas for Stamping on Cards, Clothing, Furniture and More
Model: 0801988500
Author: Cari Haysom
Fresh & Fabulous Painted Furniture
Model: 0806977930
Author: Sterling Publications Editors
(May, 2000)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
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