STENCILED AND HAND-PAINTED CHEST OF DRAWERS

Throughout history, stenciling has been used to paint a repeat design that looks as if it is hand-painted and is still used today to create a measured repeated pattern. In contrast, this stenciled chest of drawers has been made to look unique. I was inspired by one of my stockists to combine seemingly random stenciling and hand-painting. To begin with I was more or less copying. However, hand-painting allows your distinctive style and character to come through, so let yourself approach this project in your own way, because each person uses a brush differently. This is a project for anyone who loves to paint and is prepared to give it a go. Although the stencils appear to be placed randomly, they are, in fact, applied in a balanced way, with more or less space between them in different places. The cool, solid base of pattern is brought together with flashes of warm color that give the piece movement and pizzazz.

YOU WILL NEED

• Chalk Paint^® in Provence and Old White

• Small project pots of Chalk Paint^® in: Napoleonic Blue, Antibes Green, Burgundy, and Barcelona Orange

• Annie Sloan MixMat^™

• Small sponge roller

• Annie Sloan Oak Leaves stencil

• Artists’ pointed detail brushes

• Clear wax

• Small wax brush

• Clean, dry, lint-free cloths

1I made a paint mix for the base color of the chest of drawers because I wanted to create a paler blue color by mixing Provence and Old White. I used my MixMat^™ to work out the ratio of the colors—here I used 10½ fl oz (300ml) of Provence to 3½ fl oz (100ml) of Old White paint. I then used this ratio to make up a larger quantity of paint. Stir well and use the sponge roller to paint the base color on the piece of furniture, in this case a chest of drawers. Allow to dry.

TIP

Although I painted this chest of drawers on its side, it is much easier to lay it on its back when stenciling. Remove all the handles before you start, so that you have a flat surface to work on.

2Use the MixMat^™ to roll out some Napoleonic Blue, then stencil the Oak Leaves design randomly onto the piece. Hold the stencil firmly with your hand to stop it moving.

3Place the stencil in different directions and leave some gaps in the arrangement as you stencil for the other colors.

4Add some Antibes Green to the MixMat^™ and combine it with the Napoleonic Blue. Load the roller with paint (combining both of the colors) and start to stencil, gradually adding more Antibes Green until you only have Antibes Green left on the roller.

5Use the roller to stencil those areas that do not have any blue stenciling with the Antibes Green.

6Overprint some of the stencils so that the Antibes Green stenciling covers the Napoleonic Blue in some places.

7Using various artists’ brushes, free paint in some small details by following the outline of a leaf, filling in an acorn, or echoing a shape with a flowing line. I used the warm bright colors of Burgundy and Barcelona Orange to act as a contrast to the cool blues and greens. Finally, use the wax brush to apply the wax. Remove excess wax with a clean cloth.