A Gypsy wagon inspired painted frame - Part 1 - Inspiration and design

A Gypsy Wagon-Inspired Painted Frame - Part 1 - Inspiration and Design

For our next project together, I'll be showing you how to paint a mirror frame. The same principles you'll learn can be applied to painting a border on a wall and around a window or door frame.

Creating Practice Strips

It's really handy to make yourself some practice strips. These can be made from card, and it's especially helpful if you cut them to the width of your frame so you can practise using the real dimensions and ratios.

You can experiment with different base colours, and test out how your design looks against them. A chalk pencil ensures your design is visible when drawing on top of a painted surface.

Preparing Your Frame

Step 1

If you are using a secondhand frame, make sure to prep the surface by giving it a sand to remove any varnish or lacquer, and scrubbing with sugar soap.

Step 2

Apply a colour wash, using the technique demonstrated in a previous lesson, to provide the base for your decorative painting.

You Will Need:

• A wooden frame to paint
• You can buy one in raw unfinished wood, or source a secondhand one that will require sanding and prepping.
• Filler and a sander as required
• Eggshell paint in a colours of your choice
• I am using Baked Cherry, by Little Greene
• Pot to mix your paint in
• Paint stick
• Water
• 2 x standard decorators brushes
• You need 1 for the wet wash and 1 to act as a softener brush
• Chalk pencil
• A selection of small paintbrushes
• Paint palette

Sourcebook

For unfinished, raw wood frames try Etsy or Hobbycraft.

Further Reading

'Gypsy Wagon Painters', by John McKale