How to cover with craquelure varnish. Refurbishing old furniture. The charm of cracks. Furniture varnish and craquelure

Many people, when referring to painting, especially medieval or Renaissance, imagine paintings with a little cracked paint. This effect is called craquelure. They appear not only from time, but also from the fact that the picture was painted in the wrong technique. This is especially true of the application of paint, its consistency.

Craquelure

Craquelures can appear not only in paintings, but on any object covered with paint or varnish. It can be antique furniture or arts and crafts. This is also due to the fact that objects can change their shape over time, deform and the coating, as a result, cracks.

Therefore, for many, items with craquelure are considered old, and, accordingly, elite and expensive. To achieve this effect, you can imitate craquelure with improvised means. This will add to your furniture the desired areola of antiquity and sophistication. In order to make craquelure with your own hands, you should know that they are created by different techniques and come in different types.

improvised means

Consider the options for how to make craquelure using the materials at hand.

• You can create craquelure with PVA. To do this, the adhesive is applied in a sufficiently dense layer to the desired object, after which the surface is dried by 80-90%. Then you need to apply a layer of acrylic paint on top of the surface treated with glue. Then dry the surface until completely dry.
• You can also recreate the effect of craquelure with the help of egg white. A layer of acrylic paint is applied to a well-primed surface. After that, the surface is completely dried. After, a layer of varnish is applied and dried. Apply egg white with arbitrary movements and also allow to dry. Apply a final coat of paint in a contrasting color.
• You can use gelatin. For such a technique, 1 tbsp is taken. a spoonful of gelatin and stir in cold water. After the mixture is heated until the gelatin is completely dissolved. After the mixture has cooled, it is applied randomly to the surface. Then, having completely dried, the surface is covered with a layer of paint. Acrylic varnish is applied as the last layer.
• You can also use laundry gel. Apply a coat of paint to the surface and let it dry. Next, the gel is applied on top of the paint layer. It is better that it be as thick as possible, this will give the necessary effect of antiquity.
• After the gel dries, the next coat of paint is applied.

One of the useful remedies is, it would seem, so familiar, table vinegar. Acrylic paint is applied to the surface. After the paint is completely dry, a sponge pre-moistened with vinegar is taken, and the surface of the product is processed with arbitrary movements.

Craquelure two-step

To achieve the effect of craquelure, specialized tools are also used. And the technique that allows you to achieve this is called decoupage. The main thing that should be purchased in order to create craquelure, whose technique is decoupage, is varnish. Specialized varnish with craquelure effect. This varnish is sold in needlework stores. Since the manufacturers of such varnishes are very diverse, the choice depends solely on your capabilities and preferences. Also, after buying a decoupage varnish, you must definitely familiarize yourself with the rules of use.

Since decoupage is generally a rather complicated technique for applying decor, it is unlikely that it will turn out right the first time. To do this, it is worth practicing on a certain workpiece. It must be from the same material as your future product. It is worth repeating the training until the result is as satisfactory as possible.

You can carry out a two-step decoupage technique on any materials - glass, wood, etc. The most acceptable material for beginners is wood.

On such a surface, it is desirable that there is already a layer of paint or decor. It is to them that the varnish will give the effect of craquelure. Apply varnish carefully, and only in those places where you want to add the effect of antiquity. It is also worth remembering that it is worth applying varnish in one layer, and no more. Otherwise, you risk damaging the surface. This is usually the most common beginner's mistake. decoupage varnish is transparent, and it is difficult to see which part of the surface has already been processed.

One step craquelure

The one-step decoupage technique is performed a little differently than the above option. This is done with the help of a tool that is first applied to the surface and is the basis for the paint. Before starting work, check that you have everything you need. You must have decoupage varnish, paint, brushes, decoupage glue.

To begin with, the surface is painted with paint either in one or two layers. 15 minutes after application, decoupage varnish is applied. Without waiting for it to dry completely, the next coat of paint is applied. To understand that the varnish is not yet completely dry, you can touch it. If the surface is tacky enough, then the varnish has not dried.

After waiting for this layer of paint to dry, a denser layer of varnish is applied. The main thing is not to paint over the already treated surface with decoupage varnish, otherwise it will spoil the whole effect. Light can help. Taking a flashlight, shine on the surface of your product. The varnish adds more shine, so those places that will shine the most are already treated with decoupage varnish. Therefore, it is worth painting over only more “faded” areas.

You can also decorate such products with various elements, paper patterns, for example. They are applied on several layers of paint and varnish, after which they are also covered with decoupage varnish.

Simple wall decoration has long been of no interest to anyone. Decorative plaster, tiles, wallpaper made of liquid glass and bamboo and other, no less interesting, materials have firmly come into fashion. To decorate the interior of your home beautifully and unusually, you can make craquelure on the walls with your own hands - an original and not too difficult antique decor to make.

Wall decoration using the craquelure technique is a coating with cracks through which the tone of the base shines through. To create this effect, special types of plaster, acrylic paints and varnishes are used. These materials do not contain toxic substances, blend well with other types of finishes, but require careful surface preparation and proper application.

To decorate the walls with your own hands you will need:

It is better to choose paints and grouts in contrasting colors so that the pattern on the surface appears brighter. The shape and location of the cracks depends on the method of applying the varnish: when using a brush, deep parallel grooves appear, when using a sponge, the cracks look like a fine mesh.

Varnishes are divided into one-component and two-component; the former have a simpler application technology and dry faster. The application of a two-component varnish requires more care and more time, so a hair dryer or fan is often used to speed up the drying process.

The application of craquelure is the final stage of interior design, because such a surface is very easy to damage and difficult to restore. Therefore, before finishing, you need to complete all repair work, lay wiring and other communications, and clean the room from construction debris and dust.

In the process of preparing the walls you will need:

• wide and narrow spatulas;
• primer mixture;
• starting putty;
• sandpaper;
• brush;
• clean rag.

Decorative plaster is always applied to a flat and durable surface, so preparation begins with the removal of the old coating.

The wallpaper must be removed, because the moisture from the plaster will soak the glue, and the wallpaper will begin to lag behind the wall. The paint is removed if there are exfoliated areas, swelling or cracks. If the wall under the paint is even, and the coating is very strong, it is not necessary to remove it.

Too uneven and cracked walls are freed from the old finish, whitewash and plaster are washed off to the base and all cracks are filled with putty, defects are leveled. The dried areas are sanded with sandpaper to remove the slightest irregularities. Then the entire wall is covered with a layer of primer, paying special attention to joints and corners, and completely puttied.

The putty layer should be about 2 mm, too thick a coating will not adhere well and may lag behind when exposed to craquelure varnish.

When the putty dries, the wall should be sanded again and wiped with a clean cloth from dust. If the ceiling is being finished at the same time, you need to complete it, install ceiling moldings or make another design for the joints between the ceiling and walls. And only after that you can start decorating using the craquelure technique.

Application technology of one-component craquelure

To avoid deformation of the new coating, the room must have a stable temperature and low humidity. Drafts are also undesirable, so it is recommended to close all vents and windows. Since this type of finish requires some skill, you first need to try it on a piece of plywood. To do this, take dense plywood 3-5 mm thick, prime it and dry it. To make it more convenient to work, you can use some kind of stand.

For light cracks, choose beige, cream, silver or blue paint. Veins look very nice with a metallic or pearlescent effect, which is obtained by using azure and a special varnish for decoration.

The paint should be applied in a thin, even layer, without smudges and thickening. The paint takes from 4 to 6 hours to dry, depending on the temperature in the room.

The next layer is a one-component craquelure varnish or primer for craquelure. The application process has its own secrets: if the varnish is distributed with a roller in uniform movements vertically or horizontally, the cracks will be located in the same direction.

You can diversify the pattern by alternate strokes in different directions. The depth of cracks depends on the thickness of the applied layer - the more varnish, the deeper the cracks. Depending on the type of varnish, it takes from 40 minutes to 2 hours to dry, the primer for craquelure dries for 24 hours.

Venetian or structural plaster is applied to a dry surface with a wide spatula. Movements should be light, without pressure, in a chaotic or thoughtful manner. Instead of plaster, you can use acrylic paint in a contrasting color with respect to the base. Apply it with a foam rubber roller with uniform movements. The thickness of the plaster should not exceed 2 mm, the paint layer - 1 mm.

Since cracking begins after 5-10 minutes, the coating should be applied very quickly. The walls have a large area, so it is recommended to cover the surface with vertical stripes of equal width.

Care must be taken to work at the joints to avoid the formation of smudges and layers, as well as contraction of the material. Complete cracking of the coating will take about a day, after which the walls are treated with a protective compound. Painted surfaces are covered with a decorative varnish with a sponge.; natural wax can also be used - this will give the finish layer additional attractiveness.

If structural plaster was used as a decor, it must be sanded with sandpaper over the entire area, and then brush the dust out of the cracks with a brush. When sanding, do not press hard on the walls or process some areas longer than others. Spread the protective varnish over the surface with a brush, rub the excess along the veins and remove with a sponge. Lacquer can be colored or transparent, with a silver, gold or pearl effect.

Venetian plaster is also sanded, dusted, and then coated with wax with a sponge.. Wax can be used thick, but it is more convenient to work with diluted wax: 2 measures of wax require 8 measures of water. All excess is carefully removed with a rubber spatula, and after 15 minutes the coating can be glossed with a soft cloth.

Applying a two-component varnish

This decorating method has a more complex technology, but gives an amazing result. The prepared surface is painted in the desired color and dried. Next comes the layer craquelure varnish, which is applied as thinly and evenly as possible. When the varnish hardens and becomes completely transparent, a second layer is applied. Again, you need to wait until the surface dries, and then you can cover the wall with a finishing coat of paint or plaster.

Finishing materials dry out very quickly and, when adjacent strips are joined, they can reach for the brush, destroying the future texture. To avoid this, the joining of the plaster must be done within 5 minutes, for paint, the time is limited to 1 minute. This finish dries for several days, you can speed up the process with a fan. If you use a hair dryer to dry, the cracks will be deeper.

You can grout the walls after the top layer has completely dried. For grouting, use dark-colored oil paint, dry colored pastels or gold powder. The agent is collected on a sponge and gently rubbed into the recesses. To remove excess, take a cloth soaked in vegetable oil, and finally wipe the entire wall with a dry and clean cloth. To fix the texture, you need a fixative or a transparent varnish.

Crepa (craquelure) - decorative paint

You also need to take care of such walls correctly. It is very easy to damage the craquelure, just hook it with furniture or hit it hard. Do not wet the coating abundantly, wash with abrasive substances and clean with chemicals. Wet cleaning is allowed no more than once a week, while using only soft tissues and clean water. If the texture is violated, only an experienced master can restore the coating imperceptibly.

Video - Do-it-yourself craquelure on the walls

Craquelure is used quite often today when it is necessary to design furniture and interior decorations. But to implement this technology, you can use not only varnish, which is sold in the store, but also a composition that you can make yourself.

Making a composition for craquelure from gelatin

Do-it-yourself craquelure can be made by using ordinary gelatin to prepare the composition, which you need to take one tablespoon. The substance is poured with a glass of water, and after it must be left to swell. Then the gelatin should be heated until completely dissolved, after which it should be left until it cools. Then you can start working. You need to cover the surface with the composition and wait until everything hardens, and only after that you should apply a second layer of paint.

Then you have to do the same as with any other craquelure. You can apply gelatin, and then paint, the consistency of which should be as thick as possible. Dry the surface after that with a hairdryer. However, when performing work, it is necessary to follow the rules, which consist in the need to cover the craquelure with varnish. Thus, you must follow a technique that involves applying pigment, gelatin and base paint. After you can use napkins on which varnish is applied. This will allow you to get a surface treated not only with a craquelure composition, but also with decoupage. Because gelatin never fully sets, it can always be washed off with water, but varnish is applied to fix the finish.

Making a mixture for craquelure from wheat dextrin

In order to make craquelure with your own hands, you can use dextrin for the mixture, which you need to take in the amount of 40 grams. Boiling water should be added to this volume, after which the composition should be kept for a certain amount of time in a water bath. You should try to achieve the consistency of liquid yogurt.

On the painted surface, which is decorated using the decoupage technique, you need to apply a layer of shiny water-based varnish. The surface must be well dried beforehand, and after it must also be left until dry. Dextrin prepared in advance should be applied with a wide brush. This must be done as thickly as possible, without worrying that one smear will intersect with another. For a period limited to 30 minutes, you need to leave the surface until it dries. In this case, you should not use a hair dryer for drying. If you made craquelure with your own hands using this technology, then at the next stage you need to apply a patina, and you need to get rid of the excess.

Description of dextrin

If you decide to use the technology described above, then you should know what dextrin is. This is a thermally processed starch, the basis of which is corn or potato substrate. Dextrin is quite common today in many sectors of the national economy. It is often used in the manufacture of adhesives for bags and labels, sticky paper tape, as well as in the manufacture of food containers. Among other things, this material is used in light and food industries.

Making a composition from a liquid gel

You can make craquelure with your own hands using a liquid gel-based composition designed for washing. In the example, a variant of washing powder is considered, which is sold in gel form. To begin with, a base color should be applied to the surface, which must then be allowed to dry. Next, it is necessary to collect the gel on the brush, it is preferable to use as thick as possible in consistency. This indicates that for these works it is best to use a concentrated composition. You can use a sea sponge to apply the gel to the surface. It should be carefully dipped in diluted paint. If this technique is implemented on fabric, the composition should be used on the surface of the material, while the paint is applied on top.

Egg white in craquelure technique

In order to realize craquelure on the walls, you can make a composition using egg white with your own hands. Latex acrylic paint must first be applied to the surface, this is done in one or two layers. After that, the composition must be allowed to dry well. Then egg white is applied to the surface with bold large strokes. In this case, you should not pay attention to the fact that one smear will intersect another. Without using a hair dryer, the surface should be allowed to dry. Then paint is applied to the base, but of a different shade, so that one stroke does not overlap another.

Vinegar in the preparation of the mixture

If you decide to use craquelure on furniture, you can make a composition for this technology with your own hands using a different method. To do this, use vinegar. After the paint is applied to the base to be treated, you need to take a small sponge, which must first be moistened with vinegar. After it, you need to start hitting the surface. Cracks in this case can be very wide. Well, if the bottom layer of paint is visible, for this you will have to use a composition that has a contrasting shade.

Use of improvised materials

The manufacture of a mixture for the implementation of craquelure technology can be made on the basis of PVA glue. Craquelure, do-it-yourself decoupage can be done by you if you use one of the methods below.

First you need to take undiluted glue, which should be thickly applied to the entire surface. The resulting layer must be well dried, but not completely. In this case, you will have to use your experience by checking the surface for drying. After you can apply one layer of acrylic paint. Some masters at the same time use technology that involves additional listening after the acrylic composition hardens on its own.

A bottle with craquelure with your own hands can also be decorated quite easily. In this case, you can use the second method of manufacturing a mixture. To implement the technology, it is necessary to combine the acrylic composition with PVA glue. This method is quite rare. It is considered to be some modification of the above method. With it, you can decorate bottles, while the composition will fit well on the work surface. PVA and acrylic should be combined in equal proportions, after which the mixture can be immediately applied to the bottle. Do-it-yourself door craquelure can also be done in this way. After applying the composition, it must be left for a while, and then dried with a hairdryer to crack.

If you will use this technique (craquelure), it is quite simple to prepare the composition with your own hands. But it is also important to properly prepare the surface. For example, if a mixture based on egg white is used, then the surface must first be coated with a primer. Only after a layer of acrylic paint is applied. Varnishing will be required so that the protein is not absorbed. Coloring can be done in any order, and drying without the use of glue should last a sufficient amount of time.

The composition for craquelure can be made from different materials, while you do not have to spend money on purchasing factory-made mixtures, which are quite expensive. This is especially true when decorating the surface of an impressive area.

Today I want to talk about craquelure. After I began to exhibit my work on the net, I was bombarded with questions about craquelure, so I decided to dedicate a page to this interesting topic.

First I want to say that you will find very interesting articles by Elena Ostrovskaya.
1 part
part 2
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These are very informative master classes, I advise everyone who is interested to read carefully. Now about my craquelure polishes. I'm using just a small amount at the moment.

Tair one-step varnish. Always crack! It is applied between contrasting paints, cracking the top layer. A primer is applied, then paint-lacquer-paint, then you can stick a napkin, a rice card, whatever, and only then a finishing varnish that fixes the work. Be careful, some varnishes are not friendly with craquelure ones and also strive to crack or even shrivel and fall off. I recommend applying the craquelure polish on a test item and trying a top coat to see if they have a symbiosis.

Examples of my work with one-step craquelure varnish. The first layer is gold, the second is brown. By the way, all metallic paint should NOT be used for the second coat, it will NOT crack. Can only be used as the first layer!

Since I've already posted my work here, the logo is already present in the photo, so it's double. Here the first brown, the second Neapolitan yellow paint. On this box, I did not even make craquelure with varnish, but with PVA glue. The principle is exactly the same as with one-step varnish. I applied the top layer with a brush, the cracks are different, they seem to stretch from the brush, you can even set a pattern. Here you can clearly see that the cracks are thicker on top and thinner on the sides. It does not depend on the thickness of the varnish, as many people write for some reason, but on the thickness of the second layer of paint. The thicker the layer, the larger and thicker the cracks will be. On the sides, I slightly diluted the paint with water, making the layer thinner and getting a finer mesh. Do not be afraid to experiment on unnecessary items, I craqueled a bunch of simple jars at home to learn, do not immediately paint an expensive thing!

Understood with one-step. Now two step. This means that there are two steps, two jars with different compositions. The first is basic, the second is cracking. A two-step craquelure is applied to the completed work, where all the pictures are already pasted, everything that was wanted was painted on, all kinds of dark and gold colors were applied. The final step is craquelure.
The most trouble-free is a pair of Kreall. Varnishes are signed, all instructions are given on the back, the appearance of cracks is shown throughout the label. After applying the first layer (no need to apply a very thick layer, it's just a base layer) I dry it a bit with a hair dryer in order to speed up the process. At this stage, many people overdry the varnish, then no matter how much you apply the second layer, there will be cracks, but nothing will hold in them, the varnish is dry! Here it is necessary to dry the varnish so that it is sticky, but does not remain on the fingers. Yes, every five to seven seconds you will have to gently poke your finger into it and check for tack. As soon as it does not stick to your fingers, immediately remove the hair dryer and apply a second layer. Here, as fantasy tells you - you need thinner and small cracks - apply a thin layer, you need huge thick cracks - I immediately apply two layers of grease, below I will show the result. And also a hair dryer. And don't overdo it either. Dried so that the layers become transparent, immediately overwrite the cracks, otherwise everything will dry out. I will also talk about the types of grout below.

Here are two coats of the second varnish. Cracks of 5 mm are obtained. Rubbed with dry pigment gold. If the pigment is not stuck to the cracks, I take a damp cotton pad and gently wipe it off. Everything cleans up right away before it dries out.

It's silver pigment.

Varnish Idea. On white works it is undesirable, as it turns yellow. After wiping, it is necessary to substitute the work under a not strong stream of water and wash off the second layer of varnish. Do not touch with your fingers, as you will erase the craquelure itself, do not worry, the water itself will wash away everything that is needed. I like.

The craquelure is beautiful.

Such thin jagged cracks. Rubbed with a wax pencil.

Lucky Idigo. Water based so no odor. The mesh turns out beautiful, you can also make cracks thicker or thinner. Very good on white and blue surfaces, does not yellow. On the bank and the type of cracks are shown and instructions for use.

This decanter is made with two types of craquelure. One-step at the bottom and two-step at the top, Idigo.

More Idigo. Rubbed with oil paints.

Shellac and gum arabic. Very refined and fine craquelure, very expensive jars. A little yellow.

The thicker the second layer, the less cracks.

Thread craquelure from Hobby. Water based. The craquelure is really very thin.

This is how it turns out on the board.

It's faceted varnish. On the lid is drawn what will happen. There are different colors. It is applied on the primed and painted in contrasting color surface. It is, so to speak, both paint and varnish in one. Looks like pasta. Apply with a palette knife as instructed. Also, the thicker the layer, the larger the crack.

Here he is at work.

Now about what to overwrite. Only two-step craquelure is overwritten, I hope this is understandable. Craquelure can be overwritten with dry pigment. The colors are mostly metallic. When I can't find a color, I take old shadows and rub them in.

Wax crayons. I used it once, I didn’t really like it, so I leave it without comment.

Oil paints. There are no metallics in the set, but you can overwrite with them. I rub it with my finger into the craquelure, then wipe it with a dry cloth. Like. Can be used if the craquelure is slightly dry and the pigment does not stick.

When I learned to craquelure, I couldn’t find such a detailed explanation of what and why anywhere, so I tried to tell the very basics in as much detail as possible. I really hope that helped to understand the newbies. In general, my advice is to try it yourself! Not at work, but as I said, at the banks. Spread a little, see the effect, take into account mistakes and try again.

The effect of creating artificial cracks on the surface is called - craquelure, from the French word craquelure - a crack. This technique allows you to create a unique design technique. Crack effect paint is very popular these days, it not only looks beautiful and original, but can be applied to any surface.

With the help of craquelure, we can transform not only walls and furniture, but also smaller objects, such as a vase or a mirror frame. To create an unusual effect, you only need a set of special paint and varnish. With improvised means, we ourselves create an individual pattern, directing cracks and making them thicker or thinner.

Create craquelure

The craquelure staining method can turn any surface or object into an antique antique. Drying paint with cracks, right before our eyes begins to crack.

We can make the thickness of the cracks with our own hands, with the help of improvised means, or even just draw a finger. And the direction of small lightning will be unique every time. This effect is achieved due to the rapid drying of the top layer of paint.

The advantages of choosing cracked acrylic paint are:

• A decorative look reminiscent of antiquity or antiquity.
• Large selection of color combinations, both layers of paint.
• Affordable price for any consumer.
• Environmentally friendly, as it is water-based.
• Air permeability, allows the surface to breathe.
• Good waterproofing, can be used in wet areas.
• Camouflage function, easily hides small surface irregularities.
• Easy to use, applies like regular paint.

Craquelure is divided into two types: one-step and two-step. Let's consider them in more detail.

Advice! Before applying craquelure, it is worth preparing the surface to be painted.

One step craquelure

There is nothing difficult to create craquelure at home.

Below is a step-by-step instruction on how to create a one-step craquelure:

• We prepare the surface of the walls or the object to be painted. Walls, metal or wood must be primed. The primer will improve the adhesion of the paint to the surface and this will be the color of our cracks, but if you want to leave the original color, just apply a colorless acrylic varnish. Planes from other materials are easy enough to degrease.
• We apply the base, main paint, in a thick layer. If we use spray paint, shake it before applying. If the wall paint with the effect of cracks in the can, apply it with a roller, it is better to paint small objects with a brush.
• On top, apply a thick layer of craquelure varnish and let it almost dry. You can check the readiness by touching your finger, if it sticks, but does not paint, then it's ready.
• After about an hour, apply a second paint for the top coat. Cracks begin to appear immediately. If you apply a thicker layer, you will get large cracks, and if you apply a thin layer, you will see a small cobweb.
• After a few hours, the paint will dry completely and the item can be used. You can speed up the process with a regular hair dryer.

Advice! You can avoid smudges when applying paint by applying layers gradually, allowing them to dry a little.

The box is made using the two-step craquelure method

Two-step craquelure is usually used for painting or over decoupage. It looks more like cracked varnish.

Work process:

• The first layer we apply shellac varnish in several layers, waiting for each to dry. It can be clarified or dark, the latter gives a shade of patination.
• As soon as it is completely dry, apply craquelure varnish. Its drying should not be accelerated, let it dry itself in the sun.
• As soon as cracks begin to appear, the top varnish can be washed off with warm water. We rub the cracks themselves with oil paint or even eye shadow.
• After complete drying of the product, we fix the process with shellac varnish. So your work will not lose its decorative appearance for a long time.