I've redone the fireplace and I must admit I'm a lot happier with it now. I sanded down the original polyfilla and glued egg box stones in above the fireplace. I then repolyfillered it (minus the PVA glue this time - don't know why I included it in the first place!). It's drying well and it just gives a hint of the stones underneath.I just need to finish off in between the other beams now and then I will have a go at the colour washes - eek!
I've gone for a herringbone brick base for the floor of the fireplace. The Tudor/Medieval/Jacobean/Queen Annes Dolls House Project listed a fab tutorial for creating the brickwork from eggboxes. The original tutorial is from The China Doll. This is my progress so far -
Sorry it's not very clear. I just need the patience to sit down and cut out a load more bricks now before I can paint it.
Oh, wow! The chimney breast looks AMAZING! That's perfect, absolutely perfect.
ReplyDeleteOkay, colour washes for the walls and chimney breast -- anything you want to keep fairly "whiteish" but want to look aged.
You need to do at least two washes. Maybe start with a grey -- a little white, a tiny amount of black (very little black) and a lot of water. You want a nice, neutral, super watery grey. (I use artist's acrylics because that's what I have, but any water soluble craft paint would be fine).
Test your solution in an inconspicuous part of the model. It should change the colour, but not be really, really obvious. You'll notice it, but it shouldn't look too opaque. If it's too heavy, immediately dilute it on the wall with a clean brush and more water.
When you've got the solution to your liking, roughly brush some on all the parts you want to age. You do not want to cover all the white, just scumble the wash on a bit, stand back and look at it. Don't use a tiny brush -- a good half an inch diameter round, soft brush would be perfect.
Now mix up your second wash. This should be a warm one. It's the balance of warm and cool that really makes things look three dimensional. Every modeller should have both raw and burnt umber in her collection. I'd use a little burnt umber in a watery base for the second wash. The looser and more relaxed you are the better.
Step back from the project often. Breathe. Have a cup of tea. Come back and just let your eye wander over the work. You'll know when it's right!
Most of all, have fun :) If it sucks, just paint it over white and start again!
Thank you so much for this! I can't wait to try it out. I love the fact that you can just paint over it if it goes wrong.
ReplyDeleteI need to get some more paint and then I will crack on with it and get some photos posted of the results.
Thanks again,
:) lovely
ReplyDeleteHi,What a wonderful fireplace,your work is amazing!Miniregards from sunny Spain,Sonia.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting, and you nice comment!!!
ReplyDeleteYour fireplace looks amazing and I will be back to follow your progress:-)
Synnøve :)
Thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments x
ReplyDeleteI think yesterday , I walked away to do something before leaving a comment on this post LOL! I just wanted to tell you that I like the fireplace much better now after you "sootified it" ;p Will be absolutely perfect when you hang that cauldron .
ReplyDeleteLa chimenea, te ha quedado genial y el suelo te esta quedando muy bien, volvere para ver los avances.
ReplyDeletebesitos ascension