This small table was completely hand-painted with Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan.  

Since I started sharing my furniture painting journey on my Facebook page a few years ago, people have been asking me where my inspiration comes from and where to start. I suppose it’s a difficult question to answer, but most of the time it comes from the shape of the piece of furniture.  In this particular case, it was a combination of the elegant style of occasional table and my love of Venetian style of painting. The two just seemed to connect. 

When starting a hand-painted piece,  I always give myself a blank canvas, quite literally, by painting the surface with Old White or Pure as this enables me to start painting in a mixed medium style of painting. The paint takes on the feeling of watercolour when you simply add water to the paint or it can feel like oil painting by using the paint straight from the tin, especially when it’s heavily pigmented or has been standing a while in the cold. The real beauty of hand-painting with Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan is that the colours are all ‘intermixable’ so an infinite amount of colour combinations can be made. 

I have always enjoyed painting from an early age. To be honest, ever since I can remember I’ve had a paintbrush in my hand!  I hope it encourages you to know that I’ve never been formally trained but I have always has the urge to be creative.  

I think I was around the age of 14 when I tried my hand at watercolour painting. Happily my parents saved a few of my early paintings much to my surprise. I thought you might enjoy seeing them.

I never imagined that just over 20 years later I’d be painting on furniture that would catch Annie Sloan’s eye in social media and lead to me being chosen as Annie Sloan’s first Painter In Residence  of 2017. So whether it be painting on paper or on furniture, please give it a go. Life is always more fun when you express yourself! I’d love to see your work.