GIFTS IN PAINTED WOOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22900, 1 December 1937, Page 6

GIFTS IN PAINTED WOOD

ATTRACTIVE AND USEFUL CHRISTMAS SOUVENIRS There are many attractive whitewood articles, such as larnpstands, firescreens, candlesticks and so on, which arc comparatively inexpensive to buy and which make exceedingly useful and charming gifts when suitably painted and varnished. To prepare the wood, first rub it over with coarse, then fine, sandpaper, seeing that every rough place and edge is well smoothed. Blow off all dust, then apply a thin solution of size all over the article. Leave it to dry, and in the meantime plan out a design on paper. If the design is intricate, it will have to be traced lightly on to the wood in pencil. This should be done \yhon the article is dry. For colouring, use ordinary water-colour paints, rather dry. jf a colour seems unreliable and inclined to run, discontinue using it. Hemember to take into account when planning colour schemes the fact that blue loses brightness under the varnish, which is slightly yellowish, and the wood itself becomes more intense in

tone. This means that all pale colours tend to sink into the background, and therefore they should be painted on a little stronger. Bed, orange Jimd al' dark, rich colours, including black, are greatly enhanced by the varnish. When the design is fully coloured, leave tijl dry, then apply a coat of best copal varnish. See that every crevice is covered and do not let the varnished parts come into contact with any other article. Leave again for a day or two, then apply another coat of varnish. Bepeat this procedure until the surface is satisfactory. Apply the varnish quickly and lightly to prevent "bubbling." If bubbles show when the article is dry, sandpaper carefully and rcvarnish. Each coat of varnish must be absolutely dry before another is applied. The article liera, a table lamp, lias been perched on an emptv jam jar to dry.