Modern Masters (i love you), Revisited.

It’s no secret that I have an obsession emotionally-healthy crush on Modern Masters products.

It’s bordering on a deep undying love,

However.

I don’t want to come across as a complete ‘push-over’, so I shall attempt to exercise huge amounts of restraint when referring to Modern (but I sure do love you) Masters.

I just can't quit ya
I just can’t quit ya

Unless – of course – MM decide to throw tons of free magnificent product my way.  Then I’ll openly and freely declare my undying love for them.  But until then – naw forget about it –  I’m not promoting any company.

So

I stumbled into the arms of MM by chance. Fate. I can’t even remember how I ever found them.  But I did.  Fate. And honestly, everything that I’ve finished with Modern Masters has sold, almost immediately.  I guess you’re asking yourself ‘So little ‘The Paint Factory’, why don’t you paint more things with MM??  Well, duh.  I’m a painter, not a business woman.  I just never thought to do more….{what a dimwit}…until now.

I wanted to give you a glimpse of what can be achieved with Modern Masters Iron paint, plus other products; particularly the scrumptious copper and fabulicious bronze.

So let’s get this party started:

Examples of Modern Masters Iron Paint.

This was a very traditional antique side table.  The top had been bleached by the evil sun, and so I didn’t want to  couldn’t restore it.  I decided on Annie Sloan Graphite Chalk Paint, Dark wax, and MM Iron Paint.  See the lumps? – that’s rusty iron.   TopI call this a Steampunk table, basically because it seems to be a uber trendy name.  And I’m a trendsetter, yes indeedy.  And it sold – like that!  I buffed up the Graphite chalk paint with steel wool (0000) to give a nice smooth contrast between the rough and rustic iron detailing.  (A home decor store in Portland bought it, for staging).Profile

The next pieces are a little different.  Cow Heads, I know right?  I bought two because I wasn’t completely sure how many people would want a cow head, and the last thing I wanted/needed was a herd of unloved plaster cast cow heads hanging around the house. Like my life isn’t crazy enough.  But – it would seem that, at least two people, like cow heads.  They both sold.  The rusted one sold much quicker than the Pure White Chalk Painted one.  Oh, why didn’t I buy more??  Look at that rusty nose!  How can you resist it?

Before

after

Rust, and I mean ‘natural’ rust just adds a beautiful patina to things.  The price is right: it’s free if you have a year or so to wait.  I’m 50 years old for cripes sake!  I don’t have time to hang around waiting for iron to rust.  Are you kidding me??  So, if you’re old you don’t have spare time, it’s perfectly fine to give Mother Nature a helping hand.

scroll

Take this Victorian mirror.  It was missing some of the detailing.  I had to decide if I wanted to try and ‘match’ the missing piece or RUST IT UP!  Of course, the easier option won out. I seriously need to do this again.  Soon.

Perhaps.

It just turned something quite ordinary and predictable, into something absolutely spectacular!

Another fun part of using metallic paints is that you can play them side by side, and come up with some really funky, fun finishes.  Take Iron and Copper Metallic Paints.

Some might say that it was ‘A match made in Heaven’.

match made in heaven

And it is.

Of sorts.

Because, not only can you add more dimension and more texture, you can also add color – HELLO??  And who doesn’t love color.  The basic steps of applying Copper or Bronze paint are basically the same as using the Iron paint.  Sometimes, after the reactive process has taken place, I go back and add more color.  Think Annie Sloan Florence/Provence/Antibes chalk paint.  All these fab colors appear organically in the copper patina.

This table was one of the first pieces I did with reactive paint.

EA Copper patina table 007Graphite ASCP with Iron/Rust patina and Copper/patina.   They all worked together.

.  corner

Obsessed?  Me? Naw?

Close up(i still love you, Modern Masters)

Rusty galore. So you get my drift.  Magic in a bottle.

Another aspect of using metallics in refinishing furniture is that it can add just the right amount of ‘Umph’ to a painted piece.  No one ever said ‘No’ to Umph.

These next pieces were all custom pieces.  I have the most amazing clients.  They just hand over all trust to me, and say ‘Go for it’.  I love that.  Foolish people.  They have blind faith.

Finished
Trisha’s desk. Florence and Provence ASCP. With Copper/Patina.

I think the trick to making metallic paint work alongside paint, is to think of it as a neutral. Don’t get stuck on trying to match the patina etc.  Nature doesn’t, so why should you?

Dora's Buffet. Olive, Primer Red ASCP, with Copper/Patina,
Dora’s Buffet. Olive, Primer Red ASCP, with Copper/Patina,
Deliciousness
Deliciousness

So, the world really can be your metallic covered oyster.  You just have to be brave enough to dive in and grab it.

PicMonkey Collage

Beautiful fantastic Modern Masters Metallic Reactive Paints are fabulous, knock-your-socks-off, drop dead gorgeous.  But I’m not going to promote them (i love you so much), or anyone, until I get lots and lots of free product.

So, there.  I’m not playing that game.

No Sir-ree  forearm

(MM – call me)

{insert catchy ending phrase here}

Diane aka The Paint Factory

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15 thoughts on “Modern Masters (i love you), Revisited.

  • September 18, 2014 at 7:19 pm
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    once again i am a day late and a dollar short, i just bought the MM rust paint, primer, spritzer/activator, sealant. if i would have seen these pics i would have bought the copper patina stuff too and saved on shipping………………
    now you have me back to MM to get some of that copper stuff, but when will you do a blog on how to do it? i am so anxious to start on a mirror with a huge detailed frame and a french provincial dresser.
    luckily i am out of town until next wednesday. hey i a dropping off my son and DIL at Portland airport wednesday morning, any chance i could take you out for a coffee?

    Reply
    • September 18, 2014 at 7:54 pm
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      Let me know what time you’re thinking about Allison. I’m about 20 minutes out of Portland.

      Reply
  • September 19, 2014 at 5:32 pm
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    Diane – you have me waiting – tell me all about Modern Masters!??? I have become quite enamored with General Finishes! So let’s talk MM! With wine. lol

    Reply
  • September 20, 2014 at 8:03 pm
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    Diane, absolutely love your work and this blog on Modern Masters!! I want to know if cleaning a piece later in time would be the same as a waxed painted piece? Thanks. 🙂

    Reply
    • September 21, 2014 at 9:16 am
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      I would just wipe down with a damp cloth, if needed. As long as you put the sealer on, it should be fine. Another AWESOME product of Modern Masters is their DEAD FLAT clear top coat. You should try it!!

      Reply
      • February 10, 2015 at 1:32 am
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        Diane can you use the Dead Flat Varnish over the metallic reactive paints, i thought i read somewhere that you don’t use it?? Of course everything you blog/drivel about I buy, when does MM show the love back in $$$$$?????

        Reply
        • February 10, 2015 at 8:39 am
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          I’m not sure Allison. I can’t image why you wouldn’t be able to use it.

          Reply
  • September 26, 2014 at 6:05 am
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    Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your website is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a great site.

    Reply
  • February 9, 2015 at 9:14 pm
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    What a great and fun writer you are! I, too, would love the processes blogged about. I am hung up on the metal effects products of MM, literally, and I want to step out of my comfort zone and start playing with the products. I want that patina. Thank you!

    Reply
    • February 9, 2015 at 10:51 pm
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      You need to play with them. You simply need to!!

      Reply
  • September 25, 2017 at 4:39 pm
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    Would you recommend MM’s Dead Flat Varnish for a final varnish on artwork? Specifically, a mixed media collage and acrylic piece. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • September 27, 2017 at 10:59 am
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      Yes 🙂 it’s what I use on my image transfers.

      Reply
  • November 25, 2018 at 11:45 am
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    Hi Diane,
    Could you use this with a painted piece. I was thinking of making an old rusty advertisement sign.
    That had been painted and is now rusting. So some of the paint is still on the piece but the rust is coming through. So what would happen if the rust activator came in contact with Chalk paint or any type of paint.

    Thank you so much for your time

    Mary

    Reply
    • November 25, 2018 at 2:41 pm
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      You can absolutely use it with chalk paint. If the rust activator gets onto the chalk paint it will stain it a little – I actually think it would add to the patina!

      Reply

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