Back in Blue

One of the great things that I’ve experienced after taking two classes from Steve Wallis is a renewed sense of creativity. Just learning new techniques and having new tools to work with really motivated me to experiment with my paint finishes. Taking some of the skills I learned in Steve’s marbling and wood graining classes, and..... Read More 

Cedar Chest of Blue

I was getting ready to repaint this vintage cedar chest and realized I had never blogged about it. So consider this the "before" photo. Although, I think layering the blues turned out well , it's on it's way to........ Read More

The Moody Blues

A monochromatic color scheme can be a refreshing change of pace. I’m in my Blue Period right now. I love taking one paint color group and......Read More

Annie Sloan Blues and Greens

When you want to make a color statement, really have your piece stand out from the crowd, what do you ............. Read More

Safari Cupboard

A non-traditional interpretation of a safari theme on a vintage cupboard using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and a............   Read More

Beginners Start Here

New Video tutorial: Beginners Start Here.  ASCP mixing colors from Primaries.

Colorways at Leslie Stocker

To see my other instructional videos, just click on the Tools tab. For my color mixing charts and ratios see my posts,ASCP Mixing for Green,   ASCP Mixing for Orange,  and  ASCP Mixing for Purple.

Chinese Apothecary Cabinet

Chinese Apothecary Cabinet. Read the complete post

at  Colorways at lesliestocker.com

For more ideas about large storage pieces see my posts, Chinoiserie Apothecary Cabinet, Swedish Cupboard, and Country Blue Wardrobe.

Modern Chalk Paint

Use Chalk Paint for a Modern look. See the newest complete post on

Colorways at LeslieStocker.com

For more ideas on ways to use Chalk Paint in  contemporary settings, see my posts, On the Bias,  Antique and Mondrian,  and Color Studies Lime Green.

On the Bias

On the Bias Watercolors. New post on Colorways @ LeslieStocker.com

Antibes Green is one of the most popular Chalk Paint Colors. For more ideas to use Antibes Green, see these posts you may have missed .  Old Table, New Look,  Custom Purple and Lime Green, and   Stack of Bowls

New Post Today

Rococo Commode

If you love anything Rococo, you will want to see these posts you may have missed. Rococo Chest, Past Perfect, and  Scandinavian Pink

Custom Purple and Lime Green

http://www.lesliestocker.com

Inspiration today comes from This Old House and Pantone's color of the year, Radiant Orchid.  Benjamin Moore's Sweet Pea(base coat) and Autumn Purple(top coat) is layered over crackle medium to create a rich patina on this vintage kitchen island. If you prefer to use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® you will need to do a little custom color mixing first. Using equal parts of English Yellow and Antibes Green  mixed together will create a custom lime green similar to BM Sweet Pea and used as the base coat. After it dries paint a layer of crackle medium carefully following directions on the label( there are several brands available). To make a Chalk Paint custom color purple for the top coat mix equal parts of Emperor's Silk and Napoleonic Blue. Painting this deep purple over the crackle medium allows fine cracks to develop, and the lime green base color to peek through. A great way to add a time-worn look to any piece of painted furniture.

Mixing standard colors in different amounts and combinations is a great way to create a diverse and unique color palette. To see some the custom colors you can make from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, see my posts, Mixing for Green, Mixing for Purple, and Mixing for Orange.

Stars and Bars

Happy 4th! Chest of Drawers painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®. Emperor's Silk, Pure White, Napoleonic Blue

Stars and Stripes

Image Pottery Barn via Pinterest

Piero Fornasetti and Annie Sloan

What do Piero Fornasetti and Annie Sloan have in common, you ask? Actually many things.  Besides being talented artists in several mediums, they turned their art into a successful business based on their unique visions, ideas, and products.  Both focused their talents in the interior design, decorative painting and furniture industries.  They both also serve as the inspiration and process for today's post.

Using an image of classical architecture, I traced a simplified outline onto the previously painted chest of drawers from this post. Using the image as reference, Napoleonic Blue Chalk Paint® and a small artists brush, I was able to paint what you see below. I have tried variations on a Fornasetti inspired theme many times before, all disasters. This time I kept it very simple in a primitive style and I think that made a huge difference. The only tricky part was the frame between the drawers. At first I left them empty, but then went back and added a bit to continue the lines. I had removed the knobs, so they weren't really a problem. And the result?  Good enough that I didn't feel compelled to paint it solid blue.

Inspired by Fornasetti, painted with Annie Sloan.

Any Way You Want It

On Friday, I posted about a chest of drawers I had painted Napoleonic Blue. I felt it needed something more and finished painting it over the weekend. Tomorrow, I will show you what I did. Today, I gathered some other ideas to inspire your painting, when you are in a blue mood.

It's a Military Blue

Originally, the plan was to paint this chest of drawers in various shades of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, Napoleonic Blue. Although I like the blue, it is looking a little bland to me. It needs something more, I'm not sure what exactly. Possibly additional color, or maybe some art or a stencil.... Stay tuned...On Monday I will be back with the next version. And you can decide if you like the results. 

If you love blue as I much as I do, check out my posts, Chinese Apothecary Cabinet where I use a combination of ASCP blues, Country Blue Wardrobe  and how to make a Denim Blue.

Have a lovely weekend,

Leslie

Little Step

This little step has too much character as it already is, for me to paint. A perfect color palette of Chalk Paint® colors, although probably painted long before there was an Annie Sloan paint. Authentic and inspirational.

Small accent pieces can add a splash of color to your room. For more inspiration see my posts, Paint and Pattern ,  A Slice of Lime, and Violets and Daffodils

Today it's a Console

In my entryway stands a table that has served many purposes. Besides a console it has been a sofa table, a server in the dining room, and a makeshift desk. Once it even filled in as a dining table. And it wasn't always painted. It was one of the very first things in my home to receive a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ. This beautiful blue is a result of layering and blending all the colors above. It was finished with Light, Dark and Gilding wax.

On the Campaign Trail

What better a color than Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ Napoleonic Blue for this campaign style chest of drawers. Graphite was mixed with Napoleonic Blue and spot layered to add depth, over the first coat of pure NB. It looks brighter in the picture due to too much camera flash. I love this style and wanted to keep it simple to emphasize the clean lines and stunning brass hardware. A solidly built chest of drawers like this is hard to find at a reasonable price (sadly, this is not mine). If you are lucky enough to find one, buy it quickly, or it will be gone.

Antique and Mondrian

My inspiration for today's post is the great modernist painter from the Netherlands, Piet Mondrian. His series of Composition paintings feature a dynamic use of lines, space, rectangles and primary colors. Using Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ on this simple, old, multi-drawered pine cabinet, I used Graphite, Pure White, Emperor's Silk, Napoleonic Blue, and English Yellow for a straightforward interpretation of antique and modern. Or more accurately, modern on antique. Not my usual style, but I think its important to push your boundaries. I am also still trying to determine what to do with the Chinese Apothecary Cabinet I showed in yesterdays post. Consider it a trial run. So what is your opinion? Does it work or not? Love it or hate it? Keep it modern or repaint it in a more traditional antique style?