Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Project - Graphite and Old White Combination

French Chair Project - Old White Undercoat with Graphite

Yesterday's blog discussed how this particular chair got started and how I had planned to finish it.  I purchased another color, graphite, and it came yesterday so today I was raring to finish this piece.

First of all, I LOVE the color - I had thought it would be too dark/black and that I would have to mix in some off white to lighten it.  It turned out to be a deep, true grey - exactly what I wanted.

I had planned to completely cover the first layer of old white chalk paint with two coats of graphite, let it dry and sand the edges lightly to bring back the off white highlights.  I had read about this technique and wanted to try it.  I started painting the chair and found that it naturally skipped over the deep groves and ridges and painted easily around them.  I was fascinated with the results and kept going over the entire chair.  Once the first coat dried, I went over with a second coat to create a more solid color and VOILA this is how it turned out!   I love it and plan to upholsterer in a plain cream linen to really show off the two-toned paint job.

SO, what did I learn.  If you have a wooden piece that has deep groves and ridges, this technique would work very well and could be done with any paint combinations.  I'll have to find more ways to experiment with this and also find another piece to try the technique originally planned.  

I am starting to collect a number of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint chair projects and will be introducing a Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Collection on my website soon link to website