A Gypsy wagon inspired painted frame - Part 2 - Painting the frame

Project 2 - A Painted Frame

A Gypsy Wagon-Inspired Painted Frame - Part 2 - Painting the Frame

It's now time to take your design to your frame - this might take some working out to get the proportion right and the pattern repeats even, but the finished piece is incredibly effective.

You Will Need:

• A wooden frame to paint
• Eggshell paint in colours of your choice

I am using Baked Cherry, Garden, Sky Blue, Yellow Pink, Marigold, Confetti and Puck; all Little Greene.

• Chalk pencil
• A selection of small paintbrushes
• Paint palette
• 3 x water jars filled with water

In addition to the two I normally use, I will have a third if I am using white paint so as not to muddy it.

Decorating Your Frame

Step 1

Draw your design onto the frame using a chalk pencil - it may take some working out to get it looking even and in proportion within the space. If you are using multiple colours in a grouping, make sure the amount of motifs you can fit on the frame is divisible by the number of colours you are using.

Step 2

Begin painting, going colour by colour taking care not to smudge any of your work. It helps to have your practice panel close to hand so you can keep referencing it as you go.

Step 3

Once you've painted the main bulk of your design, it's time to add the highlights using a light flick of the wrist motion.

Step 4

If your frame has a trim, it can be nice to paint this in a different colour to your background. You can use a flat brush or a wider round brush, and cut in with a smooth straight line.

Step 5

Eggshell paint doesn't require any additional protection, but if you are worried about durability, you can apply a decorator's varnish in either the Dead flat finish which is completely invisible, or the Satin clear finish which will offer a more glossy finish.