1 Coating with glaze
Crackleglazes are water-soluble glazes that are applied as a 'sandwich', either between two layers of paint or between wood and a layer of paint. Apply an even coat of the glaze to the surface, painting in one direction.
2 Adding top colour
Now add a 'top' colour. Stir the colour well and brush it onto the surface in the opposite direction to the direction you applied the crackleglaze. Don't over-brush, or you'll stop the cracking process
3 Second coat of glaze
Adding the second part of a two-part crackleglaze to the surface will open it up and create a fine, criss-cross network of cracks. You can speed up the cracking process by gently heating the surface with a hairdryer, but this will create slightly deeper cracks.
4 The finished product
Although it dries clear, the glaze causes the paint on top to crack, thereby revealing the underlying wood or painted colour. The beauty of crackleglazing is that it gives tired, old and worn items a rejuvenating facelift, while new items treated in the same manner will be 'aged' in soft, mellow way.
