Host Renai Ellison demonstrates how to take new copies of old prints and give them an aged, antique look
(see photo at right).
Materials:
prints on sturdy paper
foam core
water-based varnish
variety of paintbrushes
oil-based varnish (one tinted and one clear)
crackle varnish (Use tinted varnish for a more aged look.)
* Optional: hair dryer to speed up the drying process
burnt or raw umber oil-based paint and soft cloths
mat board and frame with glass
spray adhesive
Steps:
- Crumple the print to create lines on the paper (figure A).
- Attach to foam core.
- Place the print on a flat work surface and coat with water-based varnish. Let dry well.
- Apply a coat of the oil-based varnish over the entire piece (figure B). Let dry partly until it is tacky.
- Apply one coat of crackle varnish over the surface. You may want to use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
- Using a soft cloth, rub over entire surface of print with oil-based paint. Rub gently, wiping off any excess as you work. The paint seep go down into the cracked surface.
- Apply a coat of oil-based varnish and let dry well.
- Use spray adhesive to mount the print on a backing board.
Other options
- For a brush-stroke look, instead of crumpling the photograph, mount it on foam core, then brush it with gloss finish (figure C). Follow the remainder of instructions above.
- For an aged look, instead of crumpling the paper, mount it on foam core, then rub it with steel wool (figure D) to create a worn finish. Use oil-based paint to rub on burnt umber "aging."
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