Annie Sloan Chalky Paints - a beginner's guide

For repainting older pieces of furniture, a very good solution is chalky paints Annie Sloan. I thinkchalky paints is a translation, better than chalk paintsfor the English name of the paintchalk paint. The paints - Annie Sloan's trademark - are chalk-like in appearance, but much more complex in properties. And their main strength is their ease of use. But like any start, however simple, it needs some guidance and the best way to convey this is by outlining a beginner's guide.

The simple way these paints are used was a surprise to me too. I used to say, when someone asked me how they could change the colour of an old piece of furniture, that it had to be sanded well first for the new coat of paint to adhere. Also, when the piece being painted was chipboard, I used to recommend a special primer coat to ensure adhesion to the backing. With chalky paints there are no such problems. There is adhesion to any substrate without special preparation. And by any substrate I mean wood, metal, glass, leather, ceramics, textiles, plastic.

But let's see what it takes to transform an old piece of furniture into a new-look, reinvented one:

1. Entuziasm.

That's the first thing a distributor has said Annie Sloan when I asked what it takes to start working with chalky paints. That's right, it takes enthusiasm first and foremost, and especially enthusiasm that lasts. As simple as it may be, painting at home is messy and transformation doesn't just happen by wiggling your nose like in Samantha movies. It takes enthusiasm that lasts even when things get less than pleasant - washing brushes, cleaning up paint droplets dropped on the floor. Besides, every job is done in stages and it takes patience to get to the end. If you lose enthusiasm after the first coat of paint, the project is a failure.

2. Gather the materials you need.

During the conversion you will need a number of materials that you need to gather in advance. There's nothing more unpleasant than having to stop painting to go out and buy something you're missing. So, make sure you have:

• Brushes.Both wide brush for paint application and round brush for wax application. More information about Annie Sloan brushes can be found at here. If they are more lenient when it comes to paint application and tell you that you can buy any wide brush as long as it's good, when it comes to the round brush make an effort and buy the special brush from Annie Sloan. You'll see the difference especially if the object you choose to paint doesn't have perfectly straight surfaces (raised parts, carving or grooves).
• Annie Sloan Cream Paints. Start with one colour, maximum 2. Calculate the area to be painted and think that you need 70-75 ml/sqm/layer. If the difference between the old and the new colour is not big, one coat will be enough. But if there is a big difference between old and new or if you need to cover a very dark colour with a light one, consider 2 coats of paint for good coverage.
• Annie Sloan Transparent Wax. The finish is protected with transparent wax so it is absolutely necessary at the end. Get a small box to start with because you won't have a large consumption. Don't try the coloured wax used for the patina yet. Get your hand done with clear wax and then move on to the next level.
• Lint-free cotton rags. From my own experience I can tell you that the best ones for such operations are the old (good quality) cotton shirts you have retired. White shirts are ideal, but coloured ones are also good if you know the colour won't come out. The cloths will be used to remove excess wax and to polish the wax. You'll also need it for spot wiping, hand wiping, brush cleaning.
• Abrasive sponges. Contrary to what you knew, you don't need them to sand the surface before painting, nor to sand between coats. They are needed if you want the effect called distressedso purchase is optional.
• Wooden rods for mixing paint, a short-bladed knife, a penknife for opening boxes.
• Adhesive paper rolls to mark out the parts you do not want to paint. They can be found in any DIY store and are very easy to use.
• Vessel to hold brushes in water (if you don't wash them immediately). After you have finished applying the paint, rinse the brushes with water. This will prolong their life.
• Protective gloves. You can paint just fine without it, as the paint is not dangerous at all and washes off with water. But it's good to have gloves too.

3. Prepare the place where you will make the transformation.

You will need to have a place to work and when choosing it, keep the following recommendations in mind:

• Choose the place inside. Chalk paints are totally non-toxic and with very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and there is no problem to use them indoors. Indoor use keeps the surface free from potential goo that can stick to it during drying and from dust.
• Choose a place as bright as possible. Ideally it should be natural light, but if the windows aren't big enough, make sure you have lamps to give you the light you need.
• Make sure the place is ventilated (and creates draughts), and if you don't have to it helps with a fan. Ventilation is very important for drying water-based paints.
• Protects the floor. Even if you don't have much of a spill problem using Annie Sloan creosote paints, you never know when an accident might happen. You can find protective films in the shops (good if you're painting too).

4. Choose the object you want to transform, but don't jump to pick the hardest and most complicated one.

When choosing the piece for the transformation, don't go for the most complicated option from the start. Even if they're easy to use, it's good to convince yourself of this first and make sure you like what you're doing. You might find that the length of the process, the steps, the hassle, will disappoint you and stop. Find out what a transformation is first and do it in the simplest way, starting with simple, smaller, easy to handle objects with as smooth surfaces as possible.

5. Clean the object you want to paint first.

I stand by what I said originally, that painting with Annie Sloan Chalky paints is done without sanding the object first. But any object used has a layer of dirt deposited on the surface. If the object has been used in the kitchen that layer is also combined with grease. Before you start painting, wash the surface with water and detergent (soap and water) and then wipe with a cloth.

6. Do your research!

All those who sell cream paints, Annie Sloan products in general - stockists as found on the Annie Sloan website - are ready to give you all the information you need. Don't hesitate to ask, even when you buy online. Annie Sloan distributors will be happy to answer your questions about the products and how to use them. Information can also be found on their websites. For example, on allmycrafts.ro, the website of the first Annie Sloan distributor in Romania, you can find references to most frequently asked questions received from those who want to paint with Annie Sloan paints. A great source of information and inspiration are the books written by Annie. If you have the opportunity don't hesitate to buy, you will learn many interesting things.

7. Don't skip steps, take it one step at a time.

Transformations with Annie Sloan products can be spectacular. There are coloured waxes, patina waxes that give furniture a precious look, metallic veneers and techniques to achieve special effects. Don't go straight to them. Learn to use paints and waxes first. Once you know what it's all about, get the hang of it, and build up your courage, you can move on to the next steps. If you skip steps, things may not turn out the way you wanted and you may be disappointed.

This is what I call the beginner's guide when talking about Annie Sloan paints. For those of you who need more than that to build up your courage I'll be back soon with a transformation of a simple piece of furniture done using the chalky paints and clear wax and following the steps in the guide.

Good luck and good luck!