In early June, I was thrilled to be invited to a private workshop all about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint at the store Soldier 58 in Bordentown, NJ. In May, at the Country Living Fair, my friend Rebecca from Hello Central Avenue and I had met the store owners and Annie Sloan stockists, Johanna and Paul at the Annie Sloan booth. They are the sweetest people and not only sell Annie Sloan’s line at their store but they also sell vintage furniture and finds, pieces that they have refinished themselves and then also host DIY workshops where you can learn all the Annie Sloan things!
It was a fun few hours spent with Rebecca where we learned the basics of chalk paint, a few techniques and how to use all 4 of Annie Sloan’s waxes! I wanted to share a few of things I learned at the workshop. I was truly amazed at all you can do with Annie Slaon chalk paint!
I know it can be scary and intimidating pulling out those paintbrushes and trying to “makeover” a piece of furniture. I am always hesitant myself. I have made over a few pieces with chalk paint but in this workshop we really dived a little deeper into the world of Annie Sloan chalk paint and I learned a few techniques that were just beyond a coat or two of paint.
First things first…the best part about chalk paint is its ease of use! No sanding required, it’s non toxic, lead and odor free and has very low VOCs. It is great for any project…big {think kitchen cabinets} to small {a set of candlesticks}. Lastly if you love the chippy farmhouse look or want to keep things sleek and modern, it can do both! You control the paint and end result and that is what we learned in this class…the techniques to really transform a piece into anything you want.
We were each given a few sample boards and got to pick some colors to work with. Annie Sloan has over 40 colors of chalk paint and 4 different waxes. I chose the color Chicago Grey for most of my sample boards.
Annie Sloan carries 4 waxes…clear, dark, black and white. Using each of these waxes can give your piece a totally different look. On the board below, the top was finished with a black wax, the middle is brown wax and the bottom piece is done in a white wax. I couldn’t believe how much the waxes transformed the look of the paint. Again, this board was all painted in the same color, Chicago Grey, but the different waxes each transformed the color and each one has a different look and feel to it.
On the next board, {the one on the right in pic below} we learned two different techniques….smooth, modern finish and then color wash. I painted the top board again in Chicago Grey and the bottom board was painted in Paris Grey.
The top board was painted, then sanded down, and finished with a coat of clear wax. The end result is gorgeous and feels like glass. You really have to feel it to believe it. It is the perfect finish for anyone wanting to achieve a sleek and modern look on their piece.
The next technique we learned was called color wash. This is on the bottom board {the board on the right}. I first painted the entire piece and then let it dry. Then a second coat was added by using white chalk paint, I used the color Pure, thinned out with water and then brushed on. We then took a paper towel and wiped off any excess. You can do this with any two colors you like. It really is a beautiful finish and gives the piece some depth.
Lastly, we learned a technique called layering. The piece was first painted in a dark brown paint to mimic a piece of stained wood. I then painted it in the color Svenska Blue, then distressed the piece by sanding it lightly. The piece was then finished in a clear wax and the grooves in the wood really stood out and the piece was very smooth to touch. You could do this with any two colors layered to create a truly unique piece.
It truly was an afternoon of fun with Rebecca, Johanna and Paul at Soldier 58 in Bordentown, NJ learning all the different techniques you could do on a piece using Annie Sloan chalk paint! It really is the easiest way to transform any piece of furniture into a piece you will cherish for many years to come.
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