To use antiquing glaze, you brush it over a dry enamel base coat on your surface, working one area at a time, focusing on highlights first, knowing it sets quickly and colors more intensely where applied earliest.
Antiquing glaze is a popular finishing technique used to give furniture or decorative items an aged, worn appearance. It works by settling into crevices and details while being partially wiped off raised areas, creating contrast and depth.
Here's a breakdown of the process based on the provided guidance:
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Antiquing Glaze
Proper preparation is key, ensuring your base coat is completely dry before you begin.
1. Prepare Your Surface
Ensure your base coat (typically enamel) is fully dry before applying the glaze. Using a clean brush is essential for a smooth application.
2. Apply the Glaze
Work on one surface at a time. Apply the glaze over the dry enamel base.
3. Address Highlights First
For better glaze retention on highlights (raised areas or details), brush the glaze onto these areas first.
4. Glaze Flat Surfaces
After covering the highlights, proceed to glaze the flat surfaces of the area you are working on.
5. Work Quickly and Mindfully
Antiquing glaze sets quickly. Be aware that the surfaces you glaze first will retain more color than the ones you glaze later. This allows you to control the depth of the antiquing effect.
- Practical Tip: Have clean rags or paper towels ready to wipe off excess glaze immediately after applying it, especially from highlights, to achieve the desired aged look. The longer the glaze sits, the harder it is to remove.
Using this technique allows the glaze to settle into the details and low points, emphasizing the texture and design of the piece, while less glaze remains on the high points, mimicking natural wear.
Key Considerations
- Base Coat: Must be dry enamel.
- Application Tool: Use a clean brush.
- Work Flow: One section at a time, highlights before flats within that section.
- Timing: Glaze sets quickly; first-glazed areas retain more color.
By following these steps, you can effectively use antiquing glaze to achieve beautiful, aged finishes on your projects.
