So, I continue to scribble. In fact, in the past week, I've met...
In the paintings, you can often see a network of small cracks. It's called craquelure.
But where does it come from?
Many people think that craquelure it is an essential attribute of painting, especially the old one. Actually it is not. Cracking of the paint layer can occur for various reasons, but in general they are due to improper technology: wet layers of paint, unacceptable mixing of pigments, inappropriate binder, and more. etc. Craquelure even has certain varieties: cracks can be deep or superficial, wide or the thinnest like a hair, spread over the entire plane of the picture or locally. With the strictest observance of technological conditions, craquelure can be avoided.
Accordingly, painting of any age is prone to cracking, and modern even to a greater extent, since the traditions of the artist's reverent attitude to the technological process have been lost.
Sometimes craquelure is done intentionally, which gives the painting a peculiar effect of "old times". But artificial craquelure is different from natural. So in some cases, experts distinguish a fake.
Craquelure(fr. craquelure) - a crack in the paint layer or varnish in a painting.
Craquelure surfaces are of two types:
1. Thread (lacquer, spider-craquelure) - the thinnest cracks that are found on antique lacquer boxes and miniatures, paintings.
2. Fence (hard, cracks) - cracks with sharp sides, resembling broken glass in nature.
The effects of deliberately aging things are extraordinarily beautiful. You can age furniture, decorate a glass vase with craquelure and decoupage, and it will take on an exclusive and antique look.
How is the craquelure effect made?
First way:
You can create the effect of old cracks by applying two varnishes with different properties to each other. For example, aging varnish + craquelure varnish + aging varnish.
1. Apply aging varnish (it may be called "varnish for giving paintings an old look", "patination varnish", "decoupage patina", etc.). It can be found in any art store.
2. As soon as the first layer of varnish dries and reaches the state of "stickiness, but not dirty" (not earlier than 30-40 minutes), it is necessary to apply a second layer of varnish, which is called craquelure. The thicker the second layer, the stronger the cracks will be. Here you also need to monitor the uniformity of coverage.
3. After applying the second coat of varnish, the surface can be dried with a hair dryer. At this point, characteristic cracks will begin to appear.
4. After complete drying, the surfaces of the craquelure are rubbed with various grouts. For example, bitumen from a series of patination products, dark oil paint, gold powder or dry pastel powder of any color. This is done to create a contrast with the base of the work.
5. Excess grout can be removed with another swab or sponge soaked in linseed or sunflower oil, and then wiped dry with a rag.
6. Cracks obtained by this method are quite fragile, so the resulting beauty must be fixed with varnish (third layer). To do this, you can use a patinating varnish, with which the first layer was applied, then the work will take on an even more golden-brown look of an aged object. And you can limit yourself to the usual transparent acrylic top coat.
The term "craquelure", which comes from the French word "craquelure", denotes cracks on the surface, the presence of which gives it a touch of antiquity. The very technique of creating such an effect is called "crackle". Crackle is often used in cases where the surface of an object needs to be artificially aged. A similar method is often used in the decoupage technique, as well as for the restoration of furniture and various household items. 
You can achieve the effect of antiquity on the surface using special craquelure varnishes. One-component craquelure varnish is one of the varieties of varnish that is used for one-step craquelure. In order to age the surface with this tool, you will need the following materials: acrylic paint, foam rubber sponge or brush, as well as the varnish itself, which is available from different manufacturers. Before you start working with craquelure varnishes, be sure to read the instructions. For illustrations, I use the Hobby-Line craquelure tool, manufacturer Kroyle, Germany.
The process of working in the craquelure technique using a one-component varnish begins with the fact that a layer of acrylic paint is applied to the cleaned surface. It should be borne in mind that it is its color after the completion of all stages of work that will be visible through the cracks formed. If the purpose of the work is to show an unpainted view of the surface to be treated, then you can immediately proceed to varnishing it. One-component carquelure varnish is applied in a fairly thick layer, but only after the paint has dried well. For a beginner in this business, it is best to use a foam sponge for this process, since a brush is usually more convenient for professionals.
After the varnish dries (the varnish is not taken on the finger, but remains a little sticky), another layer of paint is applied to it, on which cracks appear after a few minutes. The shape and size of cracks depends on the thickness of the applied varnish. The direction of paint application also matters. In the photo below, the paint is applied with a brush in one direction.
If you apply the paint with a narrow brush in different directions, you get the following surface:
Paint is applied to the surface with a foam sponge. On the left in the photo - the craquelure varnish is not very dry and sticky to the fingers, and on the right - it dried out more and the picture on the surface changed after applying the paint.
The final stage of work is an additional coating of the surface with ordinary acrylic varnish, which will protect it and give the object being processed a finished look. But not every craquelure can be coated with acrylic varnish.
So, let's sum up.
1. The procedure for obtaining craquelure on the surface is as follows: applying paint to the surface - complete drying of the paint - applying craquelure varnish - drying the varnish to a tack - applying paint.
2. The first and second layers of paint must be of a contrasting color so that cracks are clearly visible.
3. Paint, which is applied to the craquelure varnish, we take only matte. Glossy paint and metallic paint will not give the desired effect of cracks.
4. When applying a second coat of paint, do not brush twice in the same place.
5. The size of the cracks on the surface will depend on the thickness of the applied craquelure varnish. The wetter the varnish, the larger the cracks.
If you plan to use one-component craquelure in decoupage, then dark paint is applied first, then one-component craquelure, then light paint and a napkin.
With reverse decoupage on a glass surface on the reverse side, glue the napkin face down.
When the glue dries well, we apply a one-component craquelure varnish, which we also dry to a tack (it should be sticky, but not remain on the fingers).
We apply light acrylic on the craquelure varnish. A light color will show the pattern on the napkin. Dry well.
Now we apply acrylic of the color that we want to see through the cracks on the front side of the product.
In this example, brown acrylic shows through the cracks.
Craquelures are through, i.e. passing through all layers of the pictorial layer, or may occur only in one of the layers; can cover the entire plane of the picture or be located only in certain places. Their sizes can vary from almost imperceptible, the thinnest, the so-called "hair", to very impressive.
Cracks, i.e. violations of the integrity of the paint layer, varnish or primer, have a different nature and pattern, and directly depend on the causes that caused them. Most often, such reasons are violations of the technology of the preparatory and, in fact, pictorial processes: the choice and preparation of the base, the preparation of soil and paints, the incorrect application of paint layers (for example, when a new layer is applied in oil painting over a layer that has not dried inside).
In addition, the cause of the appearance of craquelure can also be insufficiently professionally performed restoration of the work.
The appearance of cracks in paintings is not inevitable and mandatory.
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Synonyms:See what "Craquelure" is in other dictionaries:
Cracking, crack Dictionary of Russian synonyms. craquelure n., number of synonyms: 2 cracking (4) ... Synonym dictionary
- (French craquelure), a crack in the paint layer or varnish in a painting ... Modern Encyclopedia
- (French craquelure) cracking of the ground, paint layer or varnish of the picture ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (French craquelure), a crack in the paint layer in paintings. Craquelures appear in a non-dry (just executed) work from uneven or rapid shrinkage of the binder or evaporation of thinners (water, pinene, etc.) Art Encyclopedia
Simple wall decoration has long been of no interest to anyone. Decorative plaster, tiles, wallpaper made of liquid glass and bamboo and other, no less interesting, materials have firmly come into fashion. To beautifully and unusually decorate the interior of the home, you can make craquelure on the walls with your own hands - an original and not too difficult antique decor to make.
Wall decoration using the craquelure technique is a coating with cracks through which the tone of the base shines through. To create this effect, special types of plaster, acrylic paints and varnishes are used. These materials do not contain toxic substances, blend well with other types of finishes, but require careful surface preparation and proper application.
To decorate the walls with your own hands you will need:
It is better to choose paints and grouts in contrasting colors so that the pattern on the surface appears brighter. The shape and location of the cracks depends on the method of applying the varnish: when using a brush, deep parallel grooves appear, when using a sponge, the cracks look like a fine mesh.
Varnishes are divided into one-component and two-component; the former have a simpler application technology and dry faster. The application of a two-component varnish requires more care and more time, so a hair dryer or fan is often used to speed up the drying process.
The application of craquelure is the final stage of interior design, because such a surface is very easy to damage and difficult to restore. Therefore, before finishing, you need to complete all repair work, lay wiring and other communications, and clean the room from construction debris and dust.
In the process of preparing the walls you will need:
- wide and narrow spatulas;
- primer mixture;
- starting putty;
- sandpaper;
- brush;
- clean rag.
Decorative plaster is always applied to a flat and durable surface, so preparation begins with the removal of the old coating.
The wallpaper must be removed, because the moisture from the plaster will soak the glue, and the wallpaper will begin to lag behind the wall. The paint is removed if there are exfoliated areas, swelling or cracks. If the wall under the paint is even, and the coating is very strong, it is not necessary to remove it.
Too uneven and cracked walls are freed from the old finish, whitewash and plaster are washed off to the base and all cracks are filled with putty, defects are leveled. The dried areas are sanded with sandpaper to remove the slightest irregularities. Then the entire wall is covered with a layer of primer, paying special attention to joints and corners, and completely puttied.
The putty layer should be about 2 mm, too thick a coating will not adhere well and may lag behind when exposed to craquelure varnish.
When the putty dries, the wall should be sanded again and wiped with a clean cloth from dust. If the ceiling is being finished at the same time, you need to complete it, install ceiling moldings or make another design for the joints between the ceiling and walls. And only after that you can start decorating using the craquelure technique.
Application technology of one-component craquelure
To avoid deformation of the new coating, the room must have a stable temperature and low humidity. Drafts are also undesirable, so it is recommended to close all vents and windows. Since this type of finish requires some skill, you first need to try it on a piece of plywood. To do this, take dense plywood 3-5 mm thick, prime it and dry it. To make it more convenient to work, you can use some kind of stand.
For light cracks, choose beige, cream, silver or blue paint. Veins look very nice with a metallic or pearlescent effect, which is obtained by using azure and a special varnish for decoration.
The paint should be applied in a thin, even layer, without smudges and thickening. The paint takes from 4 to 6 hours to dry, depending on the temperature in the room.
The next layer is a one-component craquelure varnish or primer for craquelure. The application process has its own secrets: if the varnish is distributed with a roller in uniform movements vertically or horizontally, the cracks will be located in the same direction.
You can diversify the pattern by alternate strokes in different directions. The depth of cracks depends on the thickness of the applied layer - the more varnish, the deeper the cracks. Depending on the type of varnish, it takes from 40 minutes to 2 hours to dry, the primer for craquelure dries for 24 hours.
Venetian or structural plaster is applied to a dry surface with a wide spatula. Movements should be light, without pressure, in a chaotic or thoughtful manner. Instead of plaster, you can use acrylic paint in a contrasting color with respect to the base. Apply it with a foam rubber roller with uniform movements. The thickness of the plaster should not exceed 2 mm, the paint layer - 1 mm.
Since cracking begins after 5-10 minutes, the coating should be applied very quickly. The walls have a large area, so it is recommended to cover the surface with vertical stripes of equal width.
Care must be taken to work at the joints to avoid the formation of smudges and layers, as well as contraction of the material. Complete cracking of the coating will take about a day, after which the walls are treated with a protective compound. Painted surfaces are covered with a decorative varnish with a sponge.; natural wax can also be used - this will give the finish layer additional attractiveness.
If structural plaster was used as a decor, it must be sanded with sandpaper over the entire area, and then brush the dust out of the cracks with a brush. When sanding, do not press hard on the walls or process some areas longer than others. Spread the protective varnish over the surface with a brush, rub the excess along the veins and remove with a sponge. Lacquer can be colored or transparent, with a silver, gold or pearl effect.
Venetian plaster is also sanded, dusted, and then coated with wax with a sponge.. Wax can be used thick, but it is more convenient to work with diluted wax: 2 measures of wax require 8 measures of water. All excess is carefully removed with a rubber spatula, and after 15 minutes the coating can be glossed with a soft cloth.
Applying a two-component varnish
This decorating method has a more complex technology, but gives an amazing result. The prepared surface is painted in the desired color and dried. Next comes the layer craquelure varnish, which is applied as thinly and evenly as possible. When the varnish hardens and becomes completely transparent, a second layer is applied. Again, you need to wait until the surface dries, and then you can cover the wall with a finishing coat of paint or plaster.
Finishing materials dry out very quickly and, when adjacent strips are joined, they can reach for the brush, destroying the future texture. To avoid this, the joining of the plaster must be done within 5 minutes, for paint, the time is limited to 1 minute. This finish dries for several days, you can speed up the process with a fan. If you use a hair dryer to dry, the cracks will be deeper.
You can grout the walls after the top layer has completely dried. For grouting, use dark-colored oil paint, dry colored pastels or gold powder. The agent is collected on a sponge and gently rubbed into the recesses. To remove excess, take a cloth soaked in vegetable oil, and finally wipe the entire wall with a dry and clean cloth. To fix the texture, you need a fixative or a transparent varnish.
Crepa (craquelure) - decorative paint
You also need to take care of such walls correctly. It is very easy to damage the craquelure, just hook it with furniture or hit it hard. Do not wet the coating abundantly, wash with abrasive substances and clean with chemicals. Wet cleaning is allowed no more than once a week, while using only soft tissues and clean water. If the texture is violated, only an experienced master can restore the coating imperceptibly.
Video - Do-it-yourself craquelure on the walls
Nowadays, such a type of decorating things as decoupage is becoming increasingly popular. Especially in combination with craquelure. Where can you start your work if you are new to this business?
What is craquelure?
Craquelure is a term used in painting. These are such fairly small cracks that form on the surface of the paintings over time. You could say it's a sign of old age. Previously, masters tried to avoid this sign in every possible way. They tried to create such compositions of paints in order to delay the appearance of ill-fated cracks by all means. But the world is changing. And now craquelure is no longer a sign of old age, but a hallmark of antiquity. Modern artists create it purposefully in order to give things the effect of luxurious antiquity.
For this, a huge number of special tools and materials have been created. The aging of not only souvenirs, but also furniture, as well as doors and windows, came into fashion. What is there to say. Even a special plaster has been created to reproduce craquelure on walls or ceilings. Craquelure is often used in decoupage. A master class on the topic of creating such things will be discussed in this article.
What is decoupage?
Decoupage is a way to decorate an item using paper cutouts. This skill was born in ancient China and then spread everywhere. After all, this is a great way to decorate objects with a pattern for those who cannot draw. Today, decoupage has been improved so much that it is almost impossible to distinguish it from a drawing. To age a particular product, craftsmen use craquelure, which is the final element. He, as it were, puts an end to the work and adds luxury to things designed in this way.
What do you need to work?
If you are a beginner and for the first time decided to try craquelure in decoupage, you simply need a master class. And also it would be useful to familiarize yourself with the list of materials and tools used. So what do you need for decoupage. First, glue. It is good if it is special, but diluted PVA is also suitable. Secondly, you need sharp scissors and napkins for decoupage. In addition, you will need acrylic paints, a base primer, varnish to finish the job, a hair dryer, and brushes of various shapes and sizes. Well, and, of course, the object itself, which you are going to decorate. But, since we will talk about how to use craquelure in decoupage, the master class in our article also provides for the presence of craquelure. This, in fact, is the tool that will serve to form cracks.
What is craquel?
Crackle, or cracking agent, can be of several types. But only two of them are considered the main ones: single-phase and two-component. If you use the first option, then the napkin will need to be glued after using it. Cracks formed in this way will show through the pattern. A two-component substance is used after gluing the pattern: first, one layer of the substance is applied to the pattern, then the next, and the cracks that have formed after applying the second layer will also require rubbing. Two-component craquelure is a more difficult option for a beginner.
One step craquelure
A single-phase substance is located in the work between layers of acrylic paint. First, you cover the work with a color that should be near future cracks, then a layer of a single-phase agent is applied over the entire surface or only where there should be cracks. And after that, apply the paint that should be the main background of the work. As the surface dries, the background will crack and the underlying color will come out. After the manifestation of all cracks, you can start gluing the selected napkin motifs. Such cracks do not require grouting, and they shine through your drawing if they are made on the entire surface to be decorated.
Two-component craquelure
A two-component product is used, unlike the previous one, after painting and gluing drawings. Already from its name it is clear that it consists of two substances. The first is applied to the surface of the object to be decorated with a thin layer and dried to a sticky state. Then the top is covered with a second substance. Moreover, the thicker the second layer, the larger cracks are formed in the end. All the resulting cracks are rubbed with various materials. The most commonly used gold and silver powders. But there are also multi-colored powder pigments.
Craquelure on PVA
It is not always possible to purchase special materials for craquelure. In this case, ordinary PVA glue will come to your aid. The principle of operation here is the same as with a single-component tool. Glue is applied between layers of paint. The thicker the layer, the larger the cracks. Lightly dry with a hair dryer. As a result, the glue should be crusted on top, but remain raw inside. Then the background paint is applied and dried with a hair dryer. The result is cracks. Of course, PVA craquelure turns out to be less elegant, but it also looks very interesting. Here, as in all types of needlework, training is important.
What can be decorated with decoupage and craquelure?
In a wonderful decoupage technique, all your creative originality will surely manifest itself. After all, in such a seemingly simple way, you can create unique interior gizmos. In the decoupage technique using craquelure, watches and especially jewelry boxes look great. You can create wonderful kitchen sets or decorate your office desk in an original way. In general, decoupage and craquelure - a flight of your imagination.
Master class on creating watches using decoupage technique using craquelure
Consider how to make a new unique watch from an old unnecessary plate using the decoupage technique. One-step craquelure in this case will perfectly complement the finished product.
In addition to the materials for decoupage and craquelure already described above, you will need an old flat plate, a drill and a drill for a ceramic surface.
Drill a hole in the center of your plate into which the clockwork will be inserted later. Thoroughly degrease the surface, cover it in two layers. Each layer should dry well. If any irregularities suddenly form during the application of the primer, you can remove them with fine sandpaper and then cover a second time.
Now take a napkin, tear it off so that you get a round piece. Separate all unnecessary layers, and glue one, with a pattern, in the center of the plate.
Now let's figure out how to make craquelure. Take a brighter or darker paint (as you like), apply it along the edge of the plate around the glued motif. Use a special sponge or just a piece of sponge to make the coating even. Experiment with colors and shades.
You can use one color, or you can, as in this case, mix three or even more at once. Try to use lighter tones closer to the center.
Dry the painted surface thoroughly using a hair dryer, and then apply one-component craquelure product with a brush in one layer.
Dry the varnish slightly and apply the top coat of paint. To do this, add a little yellow to the white paint. When applying paint, do not touch the sponge twice in the same place.
After complete drying, rub the pastel into the cracks, or you can even use eye shadow if you don’t have pastels. Try to achieve iridescent shades, but not very saturated. Let them have a translucent effect.
Now separate the individual elements from the napkin and glue them over the craquelure along the edge of the plate. Don't forget the dial. You can use special ones with his image, or you can just draw it yourself. Or stick some small decorations instead of numbers. In order not to be mistaken, select them based on the interior and theme of your room. Add decorative elements to your liking. To attach them, use hot melt adhesive or another quick-drying adhesive that can hold them well on the surface of the watch. Screw the mechanism, insert the battery, and you can enjoy a brand new little thing.
So, we were convinced that with the help of decoupage and craquelure it is possible to make something useful from the old and, most importantly, completely individual. Don't be afraid to experiment. Indeed, in such a business as needlework, sometimes the most grandiose masterpieces are born from completely unexpected experiments. Give free rein to your imagination, and it will certainly not disappoint you.
