Chalk Paint, How To: Dry Brush Technique and Tutorial

Chalk paint tutorial hopefully will help you start your new chalk paint project, and, well since I'm new to the blogging world you probably don't know much about me yet but one thing you will soon learn is, how much I love French Provincial Furniture or any french furniture. I love chalk painted french pieces especially when they have a lot of detail and you can use dark waxes. My favorite style is Shabby Chic. I am in the process of chalk painting my new French Provincial bedroom suite I bought at an estate sale in my town.  I share with you the steps I took to paint my dresser.

 

      My before pic. I forgot to take one before I started...Oops

    I removed the hardware and started with Coco as my base coat

 I did 3 coats on the drawers. I normally use only 2 but I thought

 it needed a 3rd

I chose Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for this project. Color Coco and Country Grey

Let me explain a little about the dry bush technique when you are chalk painting. To start off you dab a thick bristled paint brush in the chalk paint just to get it on the very tips of the brush. Next you take a paper plate, or at least that is what i use. Then you brush it off on the paper plate so that the paint is all off of the bristles. Then you take and lightly stroke over the area you are wanting the chalk paint to have the dry brush look. The corners and naturally damaged areas I usually dry brush a little heavier. Playing with the different colors of chalk paint will really help you learn where the dry brushing looks good and where you can make it heavier and more distressed looking. Its all your choice.  thats what I LOVE about chalk paint. You can do so many things with it.
Now the more you do this dry brush technique the more you will get comfortable with the dry brushing. It does not take long to learn so practice and get comfy with it. You will get the hang of it very quickly.

See more about dry brushing http://somethingtochalkabout.blogspot.com/2015/04/diy-chalk-finish-paint.html
See my layering techniques page. http://somethingtochalkabout.blogspot.com/p/why-use-so-many-colors-to-paint-white.html
or my Pinterest board Chalk paint tutorials https://www.pinterest.com/brookelynpd/chalkpaint-titorials/

 

Then i finished the base of the dresser 

dry brushed it,

Her is the finished piece! Beautiful

I will add more later of the whole bedroom which is being
completely redecorated.

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Chalk Paint Ideas and Inspiration …. Photo Gallery

Chalk Paint Ideas and Inspiration Photo Gallery

I know you love looking for chalk paint ideas and inspiring chalk paint furniture pieces…. Yummy, I know I do. 

So when people like you decide to chalk paint that piece of furniture that has been sitting there for months. You know that piece you just couldn't quite make up your mind on the technique to use or do you want to distress or not, do I want to use this color that color or a color mix of chalk paint, etc. Decisions, decisions.  You either go looking for a piece that inspires you or you finally have your own creative ideas you just dreamed up. Either way is fine because no piece will ever be exactly the same.

Today I am going to share with you some chalk painted pieces that I have either painted myself, I am currently working on and some from friends of mine that have given me permission to share.

You can actually find some of these chalk painted pieces for sale in a little store or actually a BIG store in Savannah, GA. Two Woman and a Warehouse. Have you heard of them?  They actually have 2 stores in Savannah one of them being a 7,000 ft. warehouse.  It s a fabulous place and I actually am planning on writing a whole blog post about them.
I also have a few pieces that I am not quite happy with and really need some expert advice on. I may just share those here as swell and see if some of you can give me your opinions on whether you like it or what I need to do different. There are a few I just can't get quite right. Please don't shame me for some of the pictures. Some are not staged and are still in my shop that are not complete.

 

            

     

SO I decided to wait on the ones a I am having problems with. I will post them very soon. Maybe you can get some inspiration from some of these. Please tell me what you think or ask any questions you have. Most of these pieces were painted with Maison Blanche Chalk Paints or Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Wax. 

Ok here is one I have been trying to perfect and it may just be the piece of furniture that i used as to why I am not liking it. The furniture may not have that antique old feel like I am going for with this technique. I really want it to look kinda faded and dirty. PLEASE help on what I did wrong.

It looks ok from afar but when you get up close Im not happy with it. Here's a close up.