Painting / Colouring a platter

[Lazurus]

I am currently turning a 36" platter / wall plaque, the wood is a very bland Oak salvaged from a kitchen work top! I would like to add some colour but have never strayed into the dark art of multi colouring anything and would appreciate some advice on paints or dyes to use, and application techniques from those who have.

Many thanks

Stuart

[GBF]

Nick Agar does courses on colouring large wall sculptures.

Regards George

[edbanger]

It's a case of playing around a colour wheel is a good starting point to see what colours go together.

Chestnut Products do a range of spirit base stains and Liberon do a pack of water based dyes I think that the water based dyes mix better if you want to make up various tones of one colour but water based colours take longer to dry than the spirit base colours.

A trip to you nearest art shop is also a good idea there's all sorts of goodies that you can pick up.

Applying the colours can be done by brush, cloth, air brush and many other things, all give a different effect.

It's also a good idea to test what you are using on a a off cut of what you are turning to make sure that the dyes or paints that you are going to use look right on the wood.

Hope that helps a bit.

All the best

Ed

[Les Symonds]

As a starting point, and quick reference, check out Andy Coates' video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhxoEAMXtPE.
Les

[Lazurus]

I think I will have a play with my airbrush, just worried that a half decent object will be spoiled by lack of experience in the coloring.... Nothing ventured nothing gained I guess....

[seventhdevil]

I think I will have a play with my airbrush, just worried that a half decent object will be spoiled by lack of experience in the coloring.... Nothing ventured nothing gained I guess....

if you are worried about messing it up why not practice on a 12 bit of scrap?

[Lazurus]

Yes I think I will, sods law the scrap piece will come out ok though. lol

[fuzzyturns]

In which case you just repeat the process on the good piece. Practice makes the master.

[seventhdevil]

Yes I think I will, sods law the scrap piece will come out ok though. lol

you could always stick it behind a 3' magnifying glass if that happens...

[Derek]

I always had doubts about putting colour on a nicely turned piece in case I messed up but find it a lot easier to do so now. I am still in the early stages of colouring and have accumulated a few different mediums and just experiment as I want.
This is what my cupboard and a draw looks like now, goodness knows what it will be like when I have done as much as some of the guys and girls on here.

[Bryan Milham]

Derek,

of course I recognise most of the items in the photos, but what is the coloured powder in the bottles at the front of the bottom picture please?

[fuzzyturns]

I reckon they are water or spirit based dyes. Mine look just like that.

[Derek]

Derek,

of course I recognise most of the items in the photos, but what is the coloured powder in the bottles at the front of the bottom picture please?

They are artist pigments and they can be used on wood, the frame with the glass plate and the glass pestle in the back left hand side are for grinding the pigment down to a very fine texture before mixing. I still need to find a little more about what is the best medium to mix with it.

 Everything you see in that photo I was given by an artist

[GBF]

Could you put a picture of your 36" Platter up please I have never seen a platter as big as that

Regards George

[Lazurus]

Will get some pics tonight if I can.

S.