Before canvas became readily available for artists, wood was one of the most common mediums for expressing creativity. Sturdy and durable, a smooth wood surface provides space that accepts paint well, though the downside is that painting wood art rarely stands the test of time. Fortunately, modern preparation techniques, high-quality paints and painting additives help contemporary artists unleash their vision on wood in a lasting fashion. As such, milk paints like Real Milk Paint lead the pack as a go-to choice for bringing color to these unique pieces of wood art.
Different Types of Wood Art
Wood art runs the gamut from designs painted on wood panels to layered designs melded to larger pieces of wood. Many people use furnishings such as cabinets as a wood art painting surface when they wish to personalize their living spaces with coordinating color and style. No matter if you’re a woodworker piecing together sculptural elements into a grand design or simply a DIYer wishing to beautify your home decor, painting wood art with Real Milk Paint can help you actualize your ideas with its range of 56 diverse colors. Though many people use acrylics when painting wood art, using milk paint conveys numerous advantages over acrylic paint when you want pieces that endure.
Milk Paint Benefits for Painting Wood Art
One of the oldest mediums known to man, milk paints like Real Milk Paint have staying power both in terms of their value as art supplies and on wood art. Like most oil paint and acrylic paint, Real Milk Paint contains no volatile organic materials (VOCs), making it perfect for painting wood art in enclosed spaces without any ventilation. Made with all-natural ingredients such as milk casein, this nontoxic medium comes in a powdered format that mixes easily with water, allowing you to whip up batches of color when the mood strikes you, and the paint you mix lasts for up to two weeks, ensuring you have plenty of time for painting on wood art before it spoils.
Supplies for Milk Painting on Wood Art
Before you get started painting wood art with Real Milk Paint, you need some essential supplies at the ready. These include:
- Real Milk Paint in your choice of colors
- Containers for mixing milk paint with water
- Paintbrushes for broad and fine coverage
- A drop cloth for covering your work surface
- Your choice of wood art sealer
- A wood panel, board or cut for painting
- Fine grit sandpaper for surface preparation
Other supplies you may need for milk painting on wood art vary with your needs. For instance, if your painting over an unknown surface or pre-existing finish, you might add our Ultra-Bond Adhesion Promoter to your Real Milk Paint mixture. Additionally, if you plan on displaying your wood art project outdoors, our Outdoor Additive reduces the chances of tannin bleed through and mildew growth.
How to Prime Wood for Art Painting
If you’re wondering how to prime wood for art painting, the good news about using Real Milk Paint for painting wood art is that it requires no priming or sanding for excellent coverage and adhesion. Much like priming a canvas with acrylic gesso creates a smooth surface for decorative elements, however, priming before painting on wood art can help you achieve a uniform surface for work. Rather than using an actual primer, however, consider covering the front and back of your piece with a Real Milk Paint foundation layer that suits your creative vision and evens out the color of the wood beneath. For example, Soft White and Arabian Night work much like white and black gesso when you want an alternative way to prime projects for painting wood art. Also, if the surface area is rough, you may also want to sand it with fine-grit sandpaper, such as 150 or 220, before you begin if you want smoother results.
Painting on Wood Art with Real Milk Paint
The first step to painting wood art is choosing the wood that works for you. When selecting wood for milk painting, consider how well you can draw the designs you want on the surface. For example, pieces with minimal wood grain like plywood let you create more precise details, while bumpy pieces work better for less detailed work. Next, sand down the surface to the smoothness you prefer, then add a coat of Real Milk Paint in the base color you select to substitute for primer with a paintbrush designed for broad coverage. After your base coat dries, draw the design you want to use for milk painting your wood art.
Once you have the design set to your satisfaction, use the fine paintbrushes you selected to start adding color. Start by outlining the darker areas, then filling in with color and shading just as you’d normally paint on canvas. You may want to mix your Real Milk Paint a hair thicker than the typical 1:1 ratio with water to better keep details in place as you complete your milk painting wood art. Let your piece dry, then touch up any areas that need a bit of extra coverage and care. Once the touch-ups dry, you’re ready to finish your piece with a high-quality sealer designed to protect your work such as Soft Wax or Wood Wax by the Real Milk Paint Co.
Painting wood art gives you options for creative expression whether you do it as a hobby or in your professional life. Milk paint makes the process of painting on wood art easier by letting you create formulations as thick or as thin as needed for your particular project and allowing you to mix only what you need to save product. With 56 powdered colors that store and mix easily, consider using Real Milk Paint to create wood art that grabs attention and endures well with time and display.
For your painting needs and guidance what to use for your projects, call us here: (800) 339-9748.
