Working With Crackle

After my last post, I received quite a few emails about the frame with the crackling. Crackling is something I've been doing for a very long time. I'm definitely not the first person to do it, but I do like to add my own spin to the process.

I've used a variety of crackle mediums. On this frame, I used a medium called Weathered Wood.

I started with a base coat of black gesso, leaving a little of the gold peeking through, and applied a generous layer of the crackle medium with a brush. After the medium was dry, I applied a layer of my custom gesso/paint mix. Now, some may like this look. If you do, you can stop here,

but I wanted the crackling to be a little more subtle, so I dry brushed over it.  Again, gesso just adds so much body and texture, giving you a richer look.

On the frame from my last post, I used good old fashioned white glue as my medium.

I started with the original gold finish. I just gave it a good cleaning, applied the glue with a brush, and let it dry.

I then applied another gesso/paint mixture. The crackling here has a different pattern. I still did a little dry brushing.

I used crackling on this stool from one of my earlier posts. I followed with stain and varnish to age it further.

My pair of stands in Twins and Inspiration had a factory crackle that I hated.

I used multiple layers of paint and other mediums to tone it down.

I sometimes vary the thickness of the crackle medium. The door to a recent redesign received a very heavy layer, and has a completely different look.

So, crackling, like paint, can be manipulated to achieve the look you want. No two finishes are exactly alike.


Sharing With:
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Hope Studios: Tutorial Tuesday