Tips and Tricks
How to prepare a surface including any base coating prior to painting
Wood:
Sand/Seal with 'First Step Sealer'/Sand
J. W. Sealer is preferable to some painters
Mix denatured alcohol and Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac - half & half; coat unsanded wood; let dry; then sand. This gives a baby smooth surface. The mixture lifts the grain of the wood and makes sanding a snap!
Sand/seal with J. W. Sealer mixed with base coat; a 1:1 ratio/sand.
Do not use sealer if you are staining the wood.
Always fill in holes or bad spots with wood filler first.
Use several thin coats of paint when basecoating.
Masonite:
Seal with 'First Step Sealer'
Basecoat with several thin coats of paint.
MDF:
Basecoat only
Mix sealer with paint for basecoating; MDF tends to soak up a lot of paint.
Glass:
Clean with alcohol/Paint adhesive - Deco Art
Paint will stick better to a rough surface, so I tape off the painting area and either use an etching cream or sandblast the area. Spray varnishing with a gloss usually clears the etched look.
Fabric/RocLon:
Fabric medium by DecoArt Americana
For RocLon - Use Gesso to smooth out surface before painting (several coats if necessary).
Terra Cotta:
Seal with a multi purpose sealer
Mix sealer with paint to basecoat
J. W. Sealer
Wash with soap and water/dry/sand if needed
Tile:
Canvas:
Windsor Newton Ultra Smooth/Gesso
Sand slightly before basecoating if canvas is already prepped.
Wash the canvas first.
Metal:
Metal primer by Delta
Always clean metal with vinegar first, then seal smooth metal with a cheap car primer (available at Home Depot), then basecoat.
Linoleum:
Use Gesso before basecoating; use a roller brush to basecoat
Misc:
When transferring a pattern to a different size or shape surface than the original design, always cut apart all the elements before arranging on the new surface. Using the design as is (or just moving it around as you transfer the parts of the design) seldom leads to the most pleasing composition on the new surface.
Tracing vellum that will work well in your printer. I found it on Amazon. It is a 37# weight or thickness. Go to Amazon.com: Pro Art 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch Tracing Vellum Paper Pad: Arts, Crafts & Sewing
How to finish/seal a surface after painting.
Wood:
J.W. Varnish
It would be worth the investment for a good varnish brush.
Wipe on polyurethane
Masonite:
J.W. Varnish
Wipe on polyurethane
MDF:
J.W. Varnish
Wipe on polyurethane
Metal:
Glass:
Fabric/Roc Lon:
Terra Cotta:
J.W. Varnish
Outdoor varnish
Tile:
Canvas:
J.W. Varnish
Other Misc. Items of Interest
How to erase pencil/graphite marks from wood...lightly dampen a rag with denatured alcohol and gently rub away the offending pencil/graphite lines.