How Antique a Pompeii Finish

In our Pompeii Finish video, guest artist Leah shows how to give a unique and antique look to your furniture using a few special techniques with dark wax and pigments.

In this article, we will go over the steps Leah takes to achieve this look and how you can try it out for yourself.

In the video, Leah explains that the Pompeii Finish's base coat needs to dry before moving on to the next step. Then, she demonstrates the use of dark wax and pure pigments to add more detail to the piece. Leah also highlights how linseed oil mixes well with beeswax and allows for more versatility in the coloring process.

Leah pays attention to detail, coloring only the cracks that water would run down to give the piece a more realistic look. She advises using the "squint your eyes" technique to see where the natural shadows would fall and highlight them accordingly. Finally, she adds the "dust of ages" to add depth to the shading.

Steps to Antique the Pompeii Finish with Dark Wax and Pigments

  • Let the base coat of the Pompeii Finish dry.
  • Load up the dark wax onto a brush and offload to avoid clumping.
  • Mix linseed oil and pigments to create a variety of colors.
  • Add color to only the cracks where water would run down.
  • Use the "squint your eyes" technique to highlight natural shadows.
  • Add the "dust of ages" to create depth and shading.

If you want to learn more about the Pompeii Finish and other techniques to make your furniture look unique and antique, click here to get the complete Pompeii Finish Workshop. With our workshop, you can master these techniques and create your own one-of-a-kind pieces.

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