Stepping Out

Where to begin?

OK.  Well, how about here?  May I present to you,  my beautiful dresser.

This was one of the first image transfers I did.  It’s called ‘Bath of Psyche’ by Lord Fredric Leighton.  I love the romantic style of it; mainly, because I love the female form.  This is a depiction of Psyche getting undressed to bath before Cupid arrives.  Obviously, Cupid likes sweet smelling ladies.  Cupid would hate me, especially when I get enthralled in painting that I don’t have time/ or the interest to shower.  It would never work between Cupid and I: He hates smelly chicks and I don’t care for wings on my man.  

But, back to the dresser.  I was really really happy with how it turned out.  I had painted the main body in Arles Annie Sloan Chalk paint.  I wanted a really decadent look, so I gold leafed the drawers and feet.  It was beautiful (or at least, I thought it was beautiful).

‘Cept no-one bought it.

Even the store that carried some of my pieces wouldn’t take it because it had naked titties on it.  (What!).  I have to be truthful here: this piece really made me scratch my head and wonder if I was on the completely wrong track.  I just, very naively, thought that everyone appreciated classical paintings.  Nope.  Not true.  Especially on furniture.  Bugger.

Rather disheartened and with a slight ‘Suck It!’ attitude towards the world,  I filed my dresser away in the garage in the pile of ‘Under-Appreciated’ pieces.  And I went on living the good life.

But.

But, recently I’ve started to think about materials and finishes and realize that perhaps it’s time to step out of my comfort zone.

So.

I’m stepping out.

I’ve used ASCP for two years now.  I know it.  I know how it reacts, I know how to manipulate it.  I know it so well, that I’m concerned I will get complacent with it.  I can paint with it blindfolded.  That’s good because it doesn’t take a lot of brain process for me to come up with a finished piece; but it’s also not good.  I think the natural psyche of most people (especially creative people)  is the need to explore; to try something different.  And that (the need for new) is the part that seemed to be missing for me.

So, I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone.  Yippee!!! What’s the worse that could happen? (Please let’s not go there).

I brought out the dresser (again).  And I had every intention of painting over Psyche.  Maybe move her to the front.  Maybe just banish her forever – the little harlot, hanging out with winged young men.  But then I looked at her, and she was beautiful (because of/ and regardless of her naked titties) and I knew I just couldn’t get rid of her.  People are going to have to embrace having titties on their furniture.  It’s just that simple.

I did know that, while I couldn’t get rid of the image, I did want to change the finish.  I had done the image transfer long before I had discovered crackle.  So that needed to be done. And I wanted a different paint finish.  Having researched in great length the different properties of various paints (OK, I basically just googled ‘different kinds of paint’).  I decided on Maison Blanche Lime Paint. It seemed the most ‘authentic’ for the image.  And it is a new line that they’ve just brought out.  And I had never tried it before.  Perfecto

But here lies the problem.  If you look on social media, there isn’t that much on Maison Blanche Paint Company.  I don’t quite get that.  I haven’t found any groups to ask advise. My friend, Cortney, sells the paint but other than her I’m at a loss.

My formal training consisted of watching this video on Youtube.  It seemed easy enough (said the actress to the Bishop).  In a nutshell, you brush it on and let it dry for 20 minutes. Then the fun part.  You play (manipulate) it.  My lime paint is called Petite Chateaux, a very classic grey.  Then you can buff it up, and for some reason, that changes the color of the paint in areas – adding to the character.   Once it’s fully dry, you can distress it and wax it. Easy.

 But the finish.  The finish.

 That’s real shine.  No filters.  The finish is smoother than my husband’s pick up lines.  You can still see some of the Arles underneath (which was intentional).  I buffed the lime paint, painted a thin stripe of gold down each edge, put a coat of wax over it.  Buffed it again.  And Ta-Da!

It turned out so beautiful.  It really is hard to describe the final finish of this paint.  And the photos really don’t do it justice.  The ‘official’ name of the product is La Chaux French Lime Paint.  And, naturally, it’s one of the most expensive products that I’ve got (figures).  But, I know I need more colors and it’s worth every stinking penny.

So ‘Comfort Zones’ are nice.  They’re warm and fuzzy.  And we all need our comfort zones, at times.  But sometimes,

just sometimes,

stepping out of them is so so exciting!

{insert catchy ending phrase here}

Diane aka The Paint Factory

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