About five years ago, I fell in love with a photo of a dresser that I stumbled upon while scrolling through Pinterest. I remember my exact reaction as I immediately stopped scrolling.
You know the look: raised brows, wide eyes, gaping mouth.
Call me dramatic if you will, but I was completely blown away and instantly became obsessed. I followed the pin to the blog it came from (Natty by Design has since shut her blog down, sadly) and binge read every single post she had about the furniture she painted. Though it was filled with eye candy of her gorgeous painted pieces, I didn’t know HOW she did it.
I scoured the internet for information on how to achieve this wet-looking, glossy paint but came up empty handed again and again (and again).
Eventually, I came across theresplendentcrow.com. Bingo
Sucheta at The Resplendent Crow was painting glossy vintage furniture AND she was blogging about it. I poured over all of her posts.
Stalker much?
Yup!
I finally just sent an email to tell her how much I admired her work, and we became fast friends.
Total paint nerds unite!
Armed with bits and pieces of info on how to go about painting high gloss, I ordered my first quart of Fine Paints of Europe Hollandlac Brilliant oil enamel, a little paint spray gun and a little air compressor.
It took me weeks to work up the courage to actually put that gun together and open that paint can.
I.was.terrified
Sucheta basically told me to just get over myself and do it already. What are friends for, right?
Finally I did it. Was my first piece perfect, of course not. But I was obsessed.
Totally head over heels crazy in love.
I’ve spent the years since then doing all I can to get better and better at this crazy difficult paint medium and technique. I’m still so far from perfect BUT…
I’m better than I was before.
I’ve created The Glossy Furniture Guide to help you get started on your high gloss furniture painting journey!
In this free guide I share all of the tools, products, materials, primers and paints I use to create scroll stopping pieces of furniture. Download the guide straight to your device now!
What color pink is this dresser?
Color name is Peony
Can you paint this oil based paint over an existing water based paint?For example a water based black with oil based black over it???
Ideally, the water based paint would come off completely for best results. But from a compatibility standpoint, if you will use an oil base primer on the water based paint, it will work.
I, like you, have been pouring over pictures of these antiques painted in this gorgeous paint! Trying to see what paint sprayer to buy and do I need to set up a painting booth in order to do it. Can you tell me 1. If you set up a dust free-ish place to paint? And 2. What paint sprayer do you use?
Hi;
I am very much enjoying your site; the finishes that your are achieving. I wonder if you could help me do the same. Just over a year ago I had a sever problem with Fine Paints of Europe. Solvent pop. No one could explain what I was doing wrong. I spoke to Emit, car technicians, a technician from ML Campbell, tec’s from Sherwin Williams, and my mom and know one could help. I ended up using an automotive finish on the project. Now I have a similar project – an exterior front door, new build – and I’m having the same problem with my sample.
Can you help???
Arthur
I absolutely ADORE your work! I Al so very thankful that I ran across this pin sitting on a layover in O’Hare. I’ve been hand painting everything and I can already tell that this is eating into my profits. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us beginners!
Thanks! And you’re welcome:)
Hi,
I know this is an old blog, but I’m hoping you can advise on spray equipment, what spray gun did you use? Would you buy the same spray gun again, or are there others you’ve since purchased that are better?
I currently use a sata x5500 RP w/ 1.3 I. You might consider downloading my freebie, The Glossy Furniture Guide – in it i have current links to everything I use. Hope it helps! xo