Now, I knew I wanted to do a hand painted element on this piece, because I was just in the mood for some decorative painting. My design background is in murals and I really find hand painting enjoyable. So, I had to think of something else. So where does a girl go to find painted furniture design inspiration...The Graphics Fairy!
The Graphics Fairy is my go to place for inspiration and let me warn you, like visiting Pinterest, you will get off task. You may head there to look for designs for a furniture piece, but before you know it you will find yourself perusing tutorials on how to transfer beautiful french images onto tea cloths!
Although I am "groupie" for french typography, I wanted to find some sort of flourish pattern to pick up the curves on the legs and bottom of this dresser. I decided to do a spencerian flourish with a bird. I also decided to do the piece all in cream and white shades.
Here's how it all went down.
Below is the dresser basecoated in American Paint Company's Chalk Paint in the color Rushmore, a beautiful earthy stone off white.
After selecting my graphic from the Graphic Fairy, I decided to transfer my image to my dresser using an overhead projector. If you do not have an overhead projector, another great technique I use for transferring large images is using blockposters.com to enlarge pictures. You can find a tutorial on that at the at the Graphics Fairy here.
To trace my images, I used a watercolor pencil. Find them in the artist section of Michael's or your favorite craft store. Choose a color closest to the color you will be painting with, so I used a white pencil. After painting and when dry, you can just wipe away stray marks with a damp cloth.
After you sketch the image up. Gather your painting supplies for the detail work:
acrylic paint (you could use latex or whatever else you are comfortable with but for detail work I usually choose acrylics),
water to dampen brush and clean,
paper towel to dab brush,
paper plate for paint,
wet cloth to fix any mistakes,
and brushes
Here is how I usually set up my plate to paint. I poured out some white which was my main color, some Vandyke Brown tint I had on hand to add with white for lowlights (or you could use a raw uber or darker brown acrylic) and my brushes.
Because this was more detailed work I used an assortment of smaller sized straight brushes, round and liner brushes and a filbert brush.

I finished the piece with a top coat of American Paint Company's clear wax followed by Miss Mustard Seed's White Wax to give it an overall white wash. (I will be posting a separate tutorial for waxing this piece soon).
Find beauty in your day!
39 comments:
Oh wow Debbie, this is amazing!!! I think it's the most beautiful painted dresser that I have ever seen! Gorgeous job!
HI, I discovered you through Hometalk. Amazing piece! I do painted furniture too with typography and embellishments. Your piece id gorgeous! I have a projector but haven't really used it yet mostly do blockposters I really do want to try my projector more now will definitely have to!I picked up a few tricks from you thanks for sharing!!Will be following!
Debbie,
This is gorgeous! Have a great weekend!
Rita@FerryTales
turned out amazing, Debbie! that bird is so adorns!
This is absolutely stunning! You are so talented, and this dresser is definitely a work of art.
Gorgeous makeover!
Absolutely gorgeous! Even with a projector that's a lot of work, beautiful!
(coming over from Graphics Fairy)
That is just a beautiful creation, your painting is amazing!
What a gorgeous piece - definitely one of the most beautiful pieces I have seen. Great job! I am your newest follower.
Judy
Really lovely. Usually not my favorite furniture makeover style, but I really admire this.
Debbie, I am so in awe of the quality of your work and the cleverness of your selection. Amazing, thanks for the inspiration. I know exactly what you were talking about when you are evolving a design. well done, Katie
Wow Debbie….this is amazing! Love the details and the dresser color you picked. LOVE IT.
Lovely work on the dresser! Looks great!
Beautiful! Visiting from SITS...I love it when they feature home improvement/decorating blogs! Now I'm off to look at more of your site!
This is so beautiful!
Your dresser is absolutely amazing!! I love it! I am so so glad that I saw your blog on SITS! Pinning this!
Wow, that is absolutely beautiful. So nice to "meet" you--have a great SITS day.
Stopping by from SITS, this is gorgeous and such a great idea! I can't believe how easy you make it look!
Absolutely stunning - you did a beautiful job!!! New google+ follower and joining you from SITS! Enjoy your SITS DAY!! :)
That is stunning! The extent of my furniture makeovers doesn't go past sanding and repainting. The details on this piece is amazing. Thanks for sharing, and happy SITS day!
That is so beautiful! What a wonderful, inspiring idea Debbie! Happy SITS Day! -Iva
wow. That is seriously impressive. It looks daunting for me...but I would totally buy your work!
That's really pretty! WOW!
Absolutely stunning...you are amazingly talented both in vision and execution. Happy SITS day!
Wow! This is awesome and so beautiful. You are really talented. Happy SITS Day! :]
Happy SITS day! So glad I found your blog. This is a GORGEOUS piece.
- Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body {www.designertrapped.com}
That is beautiful! Thanks for sharing and happy SITS Day!
This looks amazing! I love your blog and the ideas you have! I am moving into my own apartment in the next month and can't wait to do my own DIY projects.
This is incredible! You are so talented. :)
Hi Debbie, visiting you from The SITS Girls. Love what you did to that dresser. That is shabby chic at its best!
Wow - this is so pretty! I am impressed and love the colors/neutrals you chose. Found you on SITS. Cheers!
This is absolutely beauiful!!!!!! Following your blog & heading over to Etsy as well!
Happy belated SITS Day!
Visiting from SITS. That dresser turned out amazing!
Oh my gosh, you are so talented. I just refinished a dresser we bought at a Flea Market and holy cow - your work puts mine to shame! I wish I'd have read this first! Probably would have done everything differently! Keep it up, I love your blog!
Absolutely stunning! You truly have an artist's hand! I'm in awe at how beautiful it is!
Simply Stunning!!!!
Glass fencing for your pool keeps your yard open and spacious without compromising your family’s safety. Pool fencing can be as simple as a glass surround to add beauty to your yard while complying with government regulations to completely enclosed glass pool rooms. The frame less glass fencing assembly ensures a sleek and flawless look to match your pool.
Thank you for sharing. Its informative and full of information.
Airless Spray Gun
Superb post. Thanks for sharing.office furniture ft lauderdale
Post a Comment