Tips and tricks with wise owl

The....Time...Has...Come...
Let’s paint!
Want to know the key to getting perfect coverage, seamless blending, and a flawless finish? Let’s chat…
(This post is specifically about the chalk line, not the One Hour Enamel. That series of posts is coming soon! Before you paint, you’ll need to properly assess your piece and prep accordingly. I’ve done a full series on prepping, priming, and the reasons behind choosing Wise Owl...check the categories over to the right to catch up!)
-First things, first. You need paint. Wise Owl Chalk Synthesis Paint currently comes in 67 highly pigmented, off the charts, gorgeous colors...with a new seasonal launch of 9 additional options coming in just a few days! This isn’t your grandma’s paint line...yes, we’ve got plenty of neutrals, grays, off whites, and beiges...but there’s also every shade of blue you can fathom, hot raspberry pinks, neon yellows, deep jewels, and chameleon colors that defy pigmenting logic. If you like to experiment, the colors mix beautifully and expand your options indefinitely. So, figure out what direction you want to take your project, snag a beautiful color, and jump in. (Quick tip...once you get your paint, you may notice little black metal tabs securing the lid. Grab a small flat head screw driver or even your car key and pry the tab off, twisting from the inside of the can outward to remove. I’ll drop a video down below if you want to see it in action!)
-Give your paint a quick stir and pour it into a separate container. Wise Owl is made completely from scratch (it’s not a box store brand of latex paint with chalk additives poured in), so the minerals and chalk are incorporated from the very beginning of the manufacturing process and truly become part of the grind. This means you won’t have that sediment of minerals sinking to the bottom of your paint can like you’ll see with lots of brands...which means less stirring is required, shelf life is extended, and it helps immensely with self leveling. Give it a quick stir just to be extra sure everything is fully incorporated after shipping and then pour some into a separate container. Because Wise Owl doesn’t have the harsh chemicals and preservatives in it like the more toxic brands, it can be somewhat sensitive to bacteria and contaminants. So, instead of dipping a paint brush into your paint and risking contaminating the entire pint with potential ick that was on your brush (even just minerals from your tap water from the last time you rinsed your brush), pour some off into a separate container and keep the remainder of your pint pure.
-Get a good brush and soak it in water before using. You know I love Cling On. Like, I love, love, love them and will never go back to another brand. I’m going to do an entire post just about how amazing they are, but for the purposes of today’s chat, I’ll sum it up quickly...The Cling On brushes are made with synthetic bristles, attached with concrete resin so you will never deal with shedding. They are made with DuPont filaments, which means your paint will glide off the bristles with ease and clean up in a jiffy (just suspend the bristles in clean water and watch the paint fall right out!). And if you use the brush damp (not dripping! Soak it for an hour before your first use, and then squeeze all the excess water out) it will drastically help with the self leveling properties of the paint and give you a flawless finish.
-Once your piece is properly prepped, you’ve picked your color, and you’ve got a good quality brush, jump in with paint. With the chalk synthesis paint, your coverage will be amazing in just one to two coats...but I personally PREFER to do multiple, thinner coats, for a couple reasons. First, is dry time. The paint dries incredibly fast, which is awesome because it means you can complete your project in less time….but if you lay your paint on too thick, it can cause issues. Let’s say you apply one super thick coat instead of two thin ones. The surface area of your paint will be in contact with the air around it and dry faster than the underlayer that is adhering to your furniture. As the lower portion dries, the moisture will be released THROUGH the already dried upper layer and can cause quite a bit of crackling. Sometimes this is awesome, but if you are like me and prefer a sleek, modern, finish...this is a total headache. So be sure that your first coat is nice and thin, even, and has ample dry time before hitting it with a second coat. (Typically I suggest 4-6 hours between coats, but that can vary a bit depending on your temperature, humidity, and thickness of coats). The second reason I prefer two thinner coats is because it creates better adhesion. That first thin coat won’t necessarily be the prettiest (I call it the awkward teenage stage), but it will adhere much stronger than a thicker coat can….and that means the longevity and strength of your work will be drastically improved. Plus, it makes that second coat go on like a dream and the beauty of it over that first ugly coat is extra satisfying.
-Assess your work between coats. The paint is self leveling and because of that, nine times out of ten, I don’t need to do any additional work to smooth out my finish between coats. On occasion, if you find a brush stroke, a fuzzy stuck to your paint, or some other blemish, approach it before moving further. You can easily sand your paint to a smooth finish with fine sandpaper, but for most situations, a quick swipe with a baby wipe will actually do the trick without damaging your paint or causing any discoloring. The moisture in the wipe will reactivate the paint and allow it to smooth over, move around where needed, and level out again while drying. If you are blending colors, a quick light spritz with water is all you need to open up the dry time once again and allow the paint to blend flawlessly. (This is hugely thanks to the clay aspects of the paint, making it a dream to blend). You’ve got a decent window to play with (about 24 hours) before the paint starts the curing process...so within that window, you can easily reactivate the paint and adjust anything needed.
-Once you are satisfied with your coverage (typically two coats, on very rare occasion you may need three especially if using oranges or reds which are notorious for being tricky), allow it to dry completely (4 hours before waxing or salving, 24 hours before varnishing if you are worried about tannin bleed thru) and then apply a top coat. We will dive into all the ins and outs of Wise Owl top coats in a future post, but here is a quick run down: You’ve got three options - salve, wax, or varnish. Decide how much durability you need, how much water resistance your piece requires, the sheen you’d prefer, and how much dry time you can allow and then pick your weapon. The paint itself cures in 28 days and will actually provide a fairly durable level of protection all on its own. But due to its porous nature, I HIGHLY recommend protecting it further with a clear coat.
-Sit back and look at what you just created. It really is that simple. For me, prep work takes far longer than paint time, no matter how crazy of a finish I’m going for. The paint makes the work a piece of cake, as long as you give it a good surface to adhere to. When painting with Wise Owl, the hardest part is picking a color. And don’t ever forget...it’s just paint. If you aren’t thrilled, you can fix it. Spray some water on it and blend that bad boy up, or just paint right over it. Nothing is locked in until the paint cures so don’t let the nerves take over just yet.
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Too Long; Didn’t Read:
-Pick your color
-Pour your paint into a second container to avoid contamination
-Get a good brush and dampen it
-Paint two thin coats, with ample dry time in between
-Add a clear coat to protect your finish
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Up next? We’ll talk about all the options for clear coating your work. Why Wise Owl top coats are the best of the best, which option is best for every scenario, and how to properly apply for the best results.
And as always, if you have questions about the products, would like a custom color consultation, need a partner for trouble shooting...send me a note! That's what I'm here for! And if you are ready to jump in, click the "Shop" tab at the top of the page to swing and snag all your goodies. Every order ships for just five bucks, and every fifty dollars you spend gets you entered into my monthly drawing to win some cash to use on more paint!

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