Thyme to show you "Oyster Bay Small Sea Chest"

I'm hoping that 

Mother Nature 

will soon decide that it is

 SPRING Thyme 

on 

Cape Cod

and warm things up!

In the mean time I can paint things that remind me of SUMMER!

Let's step inside the STUDIO !

Today I am going to show you a project

 called

Oyster Bay

( Small Reproduction Sea Chest)

Design 

by 

Cynthia Erekson

My Palette

DecoArt Acrylics

Victorian Blue, Honey Brown, Milk Chocolate, Lamp Black, Dove Grey, Neutral Grey, Sand, Paynes Grey, Burnt Umber, Antique Gold

Lets Paint!

I began by filling any nail holes.

I let that dry then sanded the filled areas smooth.

I wiped any dust then sealed my box 

with

Multi-Purpose Sealer

I base coated the 4 sides of the outside of the chest

 and 

the outside of the lid with Victorian Blue.

When dry I base coated the base Lamp Black along with the edges.

I left some Victorian Blue showing through.

I then transferred just the ground areas to the front of the box.

The ground is base coated 

with 

Honey Brown 

and

  shaded

with 

Milk Chocolate.

I used a Moon Brush to dry brush Antique Gold highlights to the ground area.

I also used a Moon Brush to dry brush the clouds.

I've begun working on the water as well.

I shaded around the edges of the box front using Lamp Black.

I then transferred the remaining details to the front of the box.

I am working on the buildings.

Adding detail to the buildings.

I have completed the boat and the whales tail.

I am now working on the lighthouse.

I am now working on the remaining details such as the foliage on trees, fences, weeds and dock.

I added a thinned Honey Brown wash over the completed scene to give it a "mellow glow".

To do this I dabbed the wash with a paper towel to create faint mottling.

Next I created a woodgraining glaze.

I began by pouring (1) nickel size puddle of Lamp Black.

I added (8) nickel size puddles of Glazing Medium

I mixed well with my palette knife.

I then added (4) nickel size puddles

 of 

Easy Float 

and

 mixed again.

I used a small paring knife

to chisel out some small craters 

on one end of a cork.

I used the flat side of a sponge brush

to "brush and swirl "

a complete coat of glaze starting to the back side of the box.

I repeatedly and closely stamped 

the pock marked cork

 into the glazed surface.

I continued over the surface several times

 until the pattern in the glaze

 became smaller and more complex.

I repeated the glaze process on the sides and top of box as well.

I let the glaze dry completely before proceeding.

Once the glaze had dried

 I measured off a 1/4" border 

on the cover of the box

 using tape.

I used a small dry stencil brush 

to pounce Honey Brown 

unevenly into this border.

I distressed some of the edges of the box.

I added the "brass label" using Honey Brown.

I used my liner brush

 with thinned Dove Grey 

to add the word OYSTERS

 to the label.

I applied several coats of Dura Clear Soft Touch Varnish to the box.

Completed Oyster Bay Sea Chest

Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt

 provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of their 

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs.

Thank you DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint my

 Oyster Bay Sea Chest.

Happy Painting!

Lynn

Thyme to show you Crow's Nest Tavern Receipt Box

I have fallen behind in blogging about all the projects that I have been painting!

My desk is now cleared!

Today I want to tell you about a project 

called

Crow's Nest Tavern Receipt Box.

Design by

Cynthia Erekson.

Please join me to see how you can transform an ordinary wood box

 into something very unique using simple woodgraining techniques.

My Palette

DecoArt Americana Acrylics

Camel , Antique Green, Dried Basil Green, Milk Chocolate, Lamp Black, Honey Brown, Dark Chocolate, Soft Black Antique Gold

Let's Paint!

I used a box which measured about 10" x 6" x 4"

You can adjust the pattern to fit any surface!

I began by sealing the box inside and out

 with 

Multi Purpose Sealer

After your sealer has dried sand lightly and wipe off any dust with a paper towel.

I base coated all outer surfaces of the box and lid with Camel.

I loaded the broad flat side of a 2" sponge brush with a good amount of paint.

I began in the center of each section of the box

 and

 repeatedly used a "press" and "lift" motion to create a textured surface. 

I painted the inside of the box and lid with Antique Green.

I taped off the top of the box

 leaving a rectangle area about 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" exposed 

in the center of the cover.

I then mixed a wood graining glaze.

I began by squirting a quarter size puddle

 of 

Milk Chocolate

in the center of my palette.

Around that puddle I carefully squirted

 4 quarter size puddles 

of 

Clear Glaze medium.

The puddles must be the same size as the Milk Chocolate puddle! 

Measure carefully!

I then added 2 quarter size puddles of Easy Float

I mixed this all together with a palette knife.

I loaded the flat side of a sponge brush 

and 

again used a "press" and "lift" motion

 to apply a bubbly coat of glaze to the center of the lid.

I then used a graining tool and pulled it through the glaze mix on the box cover.

I repeated the "graining" on the 2 sides and back of the box. 

The front of the box is where we will paint the design.

You must allow the graining to dry completely!

I then added the borders on the box 

by carefully removing the tape I had applied.

I used a stencil brush 

to pounce on 2 coats of Dark Chocolate 

into the 1" border.

Make sure your brush is DRY 

to avoid seepage of paint

 under your taped edges.

I then removed the 1/4" tape 

and 

used a dry stencil brush loaded 

with 

Antique Green 

to pounce the next border.

I painted the rope with Dark Chocolate. 

I highlighted with Camel 

and 

added the line detail with Lamp Black.

I shaded around all the edges 

of the of each side of the box

  (front, sides, and back) 

using 

Dark Chocolate

on a dry stencil brush.

I repeated using Lamp Black.

I transferred the design to the front of the box adding details as needed.

The details have all been painted.

I love the muted colors of this box.

I applied several coats of 

Dura Clear Soft Touch Varnish

using a sponge.

Let the varnish dry completely between coats!

I have a selection of sponges in the the STUDIO like those shown above.

I use the round flat ones to apply varnish.

The Soft Touch Varnish will give your project a wonderful matte finish with no streaks!

I attached hardware to the cover of my box.

My completed project.

Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt 

provided me with the paints 

and products to complete this project as part of their

Helping Artist

and 

Blogger Outreach Programs

THANK YOU DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint this

Crow's Nest Tavern Receipt Box.

Happy Painting!

Lynn