What do you do to keep from going stir crazy when you’ve come down with a late summer cold that leaves you feeling just…plain…crummy? What do you do when the good doc says, “You need rest,” but resting leaves you restless? When my body is at rest my mind becomes busy with thoughts of all of the things that need to be done. Can anyone relate? So I’ve been doing my best to follow doctor’s orders, resting a lot and only doing “little” projects.
In playing around with paint this week I decided to give this sweet plaster angel an Old World look, like something you might find in a French Flea Market. I first learned this technique from Rosemary, who blogs at Villabarnes and is an amazing artist. It is a technique that is easily accomplished with a little paint and Gesso. Note: Gesso is a medium used to prepare painter’s canvas and can be found in art and craft stores.
This painting technique looks best on items with lots of nooks and crevices, such as frames, carved boxes, and figurines. Thrift stores have a wealth of items available or you might want to try it out on a decorative piece you already have at home.
I began by quickly painting my angel with dark grey paint. I wasn’t particularly careful about how I painted it and I left some areas more sparsely painted where I wanted the original gold to show through.
After the grey paint dried I slathered on some homemade Gesso. Yes, slathered. I wasn’t at all careful about full coverage.
Before the Gesso could dry I wiped back the whole piece with a paper towel, exposing the color beneath.
Finally, in certain areas that I wanted to highlight, I wiped even more of the Gesso away with the corner of a damp paper towel.
A little drying time and VOILA, a new creation! Old Things New or maybe New Things Old? 
Here she sits on my dresser amidst my Vintage Lace Bottles, wearing a little vintage jewelry of her own.
I like the color contrast of this angel against all the creamy white.
Here you can see the areas where I didn’t quite cover the gold. I ended up sanding back even a bit more to allow more gold to show through.
I do believe this is the quickest and easiest DIY I’ve ever posted. I love simple projects like this don’t you?
I made my paint and Gesso with very little expense using recipes that I learned in the Farragoz Painting Course but you could use any chalk type paint and store bought Gesso to accomplish the same effect.
I’m off now to take a little rest before transforming another garage sale find! 😉
Blessings,
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
You’ve done it again! You continue to amazing me with your talent and creativity. You always find new ways of using items that other would not think of – I never would have thought to use this angel as a jewelry holder – It’s Brilliant!!!! and of course the talent t takes to paint and create and imagine the look. I love all your inspired ideas and I love you to my friend. Please take care of you and get well so we can have fun at allume in October! Thanks for always inspiring me to do more projects – – shhhh I won’t tell John if you won’t. 🙂
What is gesso? I have a piece I would like to try this with. Thanks
Oh, very nice! When I get some free time I’m going to have to play with some of this stuff!
Do you know where i can find “free time”? LOL
Was very happy to read this post, because I have a small “gold” angel very similar to yours, and I was wondering
where to buy paint to make it look like it is made of cement. I have gray paint, and I have gesso,, so I will be
painting it to look as EXCELLENT, as yours. thanks so much for a great tip. I appreciate it “very much” Love it!
Very pretty, Patti! Looks like I need to buy Gesso now.
Hugs,
Sherry
Patti… your angel is perfect! I love learning how you transformed her into such beauty… thank you!
What a fun project! I can’t wait to try my hand at something similar. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us a Project Inspire{d}!!
What a fabulous look! I need to check out your lace bottles as well. Thank you! Brenda
Patti, I love the technique! I have never made homemade gesso before, but have used store bought. She looks beautiful nestled among your other pretties! Thanks for sharing iwith SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Lovely job on this angel, Patti! It’s always great to have a quick project – such a good sense of accomplishment. Now I’m off to see your pretty lacy vintage bottles!
Catherine
Patti,
Exquisite!!!
Love, LOVE, L O V E the transformation on this piece!!!
Take good care of yourself, dear friend. . .You belong to me!!! (wink!)
Fondly,
Pat
Awesome job. Very elegant.