Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint color palette has several strong greens and blues; Florence and Antibes Green, Aubusson Blue and Napoleonic Blue.
Each one used alone can dominate any color palette.
Used in tandem will give reason to pause
and when three or four are layered and blended, all other colors are left behind.
When you want a piece to be front and center, a statement piece, so to speak, what paint colors do you choose?
Chalk Paint offers unlimited options beyond the 32 premixed colors. Consider mixing your own custom colors. I’ve created several color mixing charts to help you and you can find them on the blog. Check out my posts, Annie Sloan Custom Greens, Mixing For Purple, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Color Buying Guide
I like Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for my craft and furniture projects, but for walls nothing compares to Pure & Original Fresco Lime Paint. I love the natural variations of shades and tones the lime creates within one paint color. You have to see how gorgeous it is! Checkout my most recent interior design make overs with Fresco. It can be purchased online at www.502paint.com
P.S Pure and Original also makes a chalk based paint called Classico in 140 colors! Its amazing too!
Leslie, on the 1st, 3rd and 4th pic, what order did you layer the colors? Love all your work and look forward to trying your processes!!! Absolutely gorgeous pieces!!! Thank you for all your help…love to follow your blog because you are so informative!
Hi Jeannie,
I wish I could say I always start with a clear plan and paint in a particular order, but many times I will change my mind in the process depending on how it’s turning out. There are some basic things I usually do. Decide what I want to be the dominant color and paint a solid coat of that first. From there I will keep adding paint, by washing or spot painting light layers, trying to accent the structure of the piece (shadows and highlights). I almost never put a coat of paint on in a glaze and then remove most of it. Usually I end up with all or most of the colors I using on a paper plate at the same time and alternate between them painting small areas at a time. I almost never distress to reveal under colors, if I don’t like an area I just add more paint. I’m scheduled for more videos in a few weeks, I’m hoping that they will make my techniques easier to understand. If you have a chance, check them out and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and following my blog. Do you believe it will be a year old this week?
Cheers,
Leslie
Love your work and videos so far! Looking forward to more. thank you!
Thanks Lacy, I hoping they will be up on the blog next month. Be sure to let me know what you think.
Leslie xxoo
This is absolutely gorgeous and I’m going to try this that is for sure, keep up the amazing job!!!! GORGEOUS!!!!
I love the color combination in photos one and four. I guess I have the same question as the comment above, how do you layer the paints to create this. I have a kitchen stool that has pullout steps. I would love to do something in the colors from photo number four, for example. You mentioned you might be creating a video showing how you do this technique. I would really love to study it and to give it a try. I have never done anything like this at all. And I’ve only recently found Annie Sloan paints. And your blog. And I am simply in love with both! Did you finish these with Annie Sloan’s clear wax?
There are so many things in my house that I would love to try to paint now. For example, outside planters, some made of ceramic pottery and some made of plastic. I would love to use Annie Sloan paint on them to give them a cohesive look. Now many of them have that terra-cotta look. And some are different colors as well. I would like to bring them all together in one cohesive look but perhaps changing each piece with it going lighter or darker or to get some variety. For things kept outside like planters, should Annie Sloan clear wax be used as well?
Hi Pamela,
Yes, I almost always layer the colors, either in a wash or spot painting to let the under layers show through. I rarely mix and try to match the color in one coat of paint. I used to paint(before Chalk Paint) with oil based paints because you had a large window of opportunity to manipulate them. But then you had to wait for them to dry, which sometimes was several days. I love the freedom that chalk paint has given me, you can just keep adding paint until you are happy with the result. You cannot do this with latex or oil (as I said oil takes forever to dry).
If you have a chance you should look through my blog, I have several posts about painting things that stay outside. You can seal them with polyurethane, but I don’t bother Some of my planters and outdoor furniture were painted years ago and still look great. Just give it a try and see what you think…. Thanks so much for reading my blog.
Cheers,
Leslie
Leslie, do you sand your furniture? If so, at what point? My blending attempts make my furniture look blotchy. I’m wondering if sanding will soften the transitions. If you don’t sand, how do avoid the blotch.
Paula,
I try almost never to sand, it just doesn’t work well for me. You can always put some water on your brush and blend the colors, or even a light wash to help transitions from one color to the next. I know a lot of people wet distress with a rag. The problem for me is that I always seem to take off too much paint and then have to repaint it. One more thing I think helps a lot is having a good sturdy brush. The one i use in the video is from http://www.Leevalley.com and made for oil based paints. I use the 2″ most frequently but the 1″ is also good for details. I think last time I bought one it was about $18 They last a long time as long as you wash them after painting. Thanks for asking,
Leslie xxoo
Your video was great, Leslie. I look forward to more. I’m in the process of trying your technique with an old toy chest I had since I was born. Not quite there yet…everything looks a little to definite, and “liney” (just made up that word). Going to try mixing colors on a plate. I started before I saw your video. You are very kind and inspirational!
Amy,
I love your word, “liney”, I know exactly what you mean.I’d love to see your toy chest when you are finished. Please send me a photo or let me know if you post it somewhere (like FB) Cheers,
Leslie
Hi Leslie, I love the 6th picture. Is it a door? do you have a video of you doing that or something similar its amazing.
Hello Leslie !
I love what you create and your blog ,thank you for all the sharing .
I would love to do the dresser like no 5 with the 4 colors ,very scared ,1 st time painting furniture but i have boxes everywhere waiting to go back in ,since way too long …maybe the much awaited video on layering will have me take the plunge !
I would like to know if pigments can be added to a can of colored chalk paint and how much would be the limit it could ” absorb ” please ? Thank you for any help .
Hi Leslie,
I love what you create and you have inspired me. I love the four color dresser and want to attempt to do the exact same colors on my dresser. Which color did you use as a base coat on this dresser?
Thank you for getting me started on this.
[…] blog Colorways shows lots of mixes and I really admire the peacock coloured cabinet that is in this post. […]
I love what you’ve done with all of them, but I think the very last picture would be perfect for a project I’m working on. Do you have any idea what colors you started with or in what order you put any of them on or any specific techniques you used?
Thanks!
Very Nice work… Thought I would follow you on Pinterest.
What base coat was used in the dresser with four colors? I just love it!
Hi Leslie,
I love your work. Do you have a video showing how you got the look for the last picture? I just bought some of these colors for my hutch but I thought I would need to sand to get each of them to show through. Your way sounds much better and easier. What you did in this picture is exactly the look I’m hoping to achieve. Any helpful hints before I get started would be greatly appreciated!
I love the last group of colors! In what order do you layer them to get the results in the picture? Thanks!