| Tortoiseshell Look |
From "DIY Crafts"
episode DIC-139 |
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Craft designer Chris Wallace, formerly of Duncan Enterprises, explains how to create a rich and elegant tortoiseshell look on any surface that can be painted. Chris demonstrates the process on a wooden frame. Materials:
Unfinished wooden frame
Wood sealer
Sandpaper
Acrylic paints: bronze and two tones of gold
Sponge
Poster board
Black acrylic paint
Water
Brush
Rubbing alcohol
Eye dropper or spray bottle
- Coat the unfinished wood with wood sealer. Sand it after it dries.
- Use a sponge to apply patches of bronze paint to different areas of the frame. Paint a piece of poster board the same way as a practice piece. Sponge on the two shades of gold until the frame and the poster board are completely covered with a camouflage pattern (figure A).
- After the frame and the poster board have dried, make a wash by mixing black acrylic paint with water.
- Paint a coat of the wash over the practice poster board, and while the wash is wet, use the eyedropper to apply droplets of rubbing alcohol to it (figure B)--you can also use a spray bottle to apply the alcohol (figure C). The dropper produces larger spots. If the wash is the correct consistency, faux tortoiseshell patterns will begin to appear around the areas surrounding the drops. If not, continue to experiment with different concentrations of the wash until the process produces the desired results.
- Repeat step 4 on the frame. If you're not pleased with the results, you can wipe everything off and start over.
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