I have a thing for texture and antiqued patinas as those of you who’ve followed me for a while will know. In the search for ever more creative backdrops for my painted furniture, I think I might have found something that suits my style. What do you guys think?
I recently created the wall above when I got to play with a few interesting products given to me by Autentico. Staging and photography is a really big part of what I do in teaching furniture painting online in my Painted Love Academy so I’m always looking for ways to stop the scroll.
I created these fabulous textured wallscapes in my workshop using a product called Volterra which is similar to Venetian Plaster. It does require a bit of technique and swift work with a trowel as you move the product around and polish it up. I think the results are worth it.
I also got to have a play with Autentico Venice which is a slaked lime paint which is water based and goes over a base coat, so perfect for heritage buildings and restorations or just creating the kind of space where you want a feature wall – like here above where I used the colour Massai with a few others flecks of Dried Moss to showcase my little hand-painted cabinet.
I was gifted Volterra and Venice paints by Autentico and am very grateful. I chose to create these styled photographs and share in my blog myself as I loved the results I got even first time. I really enjoyed having a play and forward to experimenting further!
* Since posting this blog Autentico has very kindly offered to give anyone following my links to purchase their products 10% off.
I will receive a small commission as a thank you.
If you’d like to try Venice Lime Paint or Volterra any product whatsoever please head over to Autentico and use code JMM for tdiscount.
Hola Jonathon!! Te escribo desde el bello Puerto de Veracruz Mexico, nuestra página en Facebook e Instagram se llama Creativa Veracruz y Stockistas oficiales de los productos Auténtico , estuvimos viendo tu página y nos encantaron tus trabajos es un verdadero placer que nos muestres tus acabados en los muebles, ojalá algún día pudieras venir a Mexico para aprender un poco de tus técnicas. Mil gracias por mostrarnos tus trabajos.
Came Malpica de Cos
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I’ve had to use Google Translate to see what you said as I don’t speak Spanish.
I have never been to Mexico. Who knows maybe one day I will! Please feel free to share my post and thanks again for commenting. It means a lot.
J x
Hi, great post, love the added rust touch too. I’m looking at using Volterra or Venice but can’t decide! What colour Volterra did you use (I’m currently swaying towards Gris or French grey). Did you use the same colour in Velvet underneath? Which did you prefer out of Venice and Volterra? Sorry – questions, questions!
Thanks!
Hi Lou, they are very different products. The Volterra is more a technique as it’s texture and requires a trowel for application and then sort of polishing over. You just feel your way. I used French Grey I think and just painted over a pre-painted board without any special preparation underneath and it has held up fine. I was gifted the French Grey and I love the colour. The Venice is a lime paint. You can use it on walls (great for old properties) and furniture which I’ve done a few times now and examples here in different colours. It dries very differently to how it looks wet and needs to go over a chalk paint. This was also a very creative process, both on a backdrop and furniture you can get great authentically aged finishes by layering and scraping and applying in different depths. Don’t forget to use my JMM discount code for Autentico if you do order as it will save you a little which is especially useful on the Volterra. I’d love to see what you do – please send me some pics. Hope that helps J x
Great, thanks J, I’m going to order now, I’ll keep you posted! Lou x
Hello! I really love the beauitful effect and color you’ve down with the like paint. I’m wondering what kind of a base coat is needed for Autentico’s lime paints if I am going to paint over painted walls? Thank you so much!
Hi Sara
You don’t need any base coat for painting straight to a wall I don’t think but as I was painting on MDF backdrops I had to prepaint with chalk paint. Best refer to Autentico website. This is an affiliate link. Hope it helps you find the information you need.
Hi there,
I love all of these! I was wondering how long you left the Volterra paint to dry, before going over with the trowel to get the textured effect? Or do you sort of do it as you go?
Hi Lauren
Thank you for your kind comments. The first thing to say is that I am no Volterra expert but I just found my way and yes created texture as I went along. That’s the way I found to be successful. It’s a bit like icing a cake, you just get a feel for it. Not sure if that helps at all! Let me know if you give it a try. It really is fabulous for furniture painting backdrops or feature walls. J x
Hi Jonathan, I just love your work! I’m desperately trying to create a wall the same as the one where you have added the rust technique, failing thus far! Do you have any tutorials or offer any courses in creating this patina look? Thank you.
Thank you so much Lizzie, that is very kind of you to say so. I have done a few lives on my Facebook page on creating backdrops that you might find have some hints and tips. It really is an organic process and you just kind of go with it until it feels right. If you search ‘staging’ on https://www.facebook.com/JMMPaintedLove/videos it should bring up some useful tips for you. Let me know how you get on. J x