How to Manipulate the Crack Sizes in Crackle Paint – Book of Backgrounds 2016, Number 31

Have you ever been frustrated when the crack sizes in crackle paint are either too large or too small?  Whether it’s crackle paint or crackle medium, it’s something that has frustrated me a lot.

You see, way back in 2013, I created a Book of Backgrounds page using one-step crackle which is a clear crackle medium, the cracks were so large that trying to figure out what to paint on this just frustrated me.

So I upcycled the book of background art into  “How to Paint a Leafless Tree” and used a corkscrew branch as inspiration.

But in this project a few years later, DecoArt developed a crackle paint which was paintable.  In this experiment, I wanted to manipulate the crack sizes in crackle paint over a text printed background, colours with a deep orange for contrast.

The experiment went PERFECTLY!  You can see in the photos below where the crack sizes in the crackle paint range from tiny little cracks to medium and larger sized cracks.

I hope this video lesson gives you some ideas on how you can change the crack sizes in the crackle paint you are using and how to incorporate it on a printed text background.

How to Manipulate Crack Sizes in Crackle Paint

Supplies

Background:

• Stonehenge Paper
• Materials needed for the base foundation are: (technique is covered in Book of Backgrounds #17)
  • Printed Tissue
  • DecoArt Media White Gesso
  • DecoArt Americana Decou-Page Paper Medium – DS115

Palette:  DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics

• Quinacridone Burnt Orange – DMFA31

Prep and Mediums:

• DecoArt Media Crackle Paint – DMM15
• DecoArt Media Matte Medium – DMM20

Specialty Products

• DecoArt Metallic Lustre (wax metallics) – Iced Espresso – ML06C

Brushes:

Royal Aqualon

• 1″ & 3/4″ Wash Glaze – R2700
• #10 Shader – R2150

Royal Soft-Grip

• #8 Bristle Bright – SG1425

Clear Choice Stencil Brush

• 1/2″ (long flat, green handle) – 1111

General Supplies:

• Royal Brush Square Brush Basin – RD325
• Royal Painting Knife – LP9
• Unstick Reusable Arts and Crafts Sheet
• Mister Bottle Filled with Water
• Paper Towels
• Baby, Kitchen Wipes or Kitchen cloths (for dry rub application)
• Heat Gun

Manufacturers

• DecoArt – DecoArt.com
• Royal Brush – RoyalBrush.com
• Unstick – Unstick.ca