How to paint on wood?

Question

I bought these pieces of wood from a craft store and I want to paint them to give as a Christmas gift.
1. What type of paint should I use on wood?
2. People always say acrylic paint is the best, but every time I've tried before the paint won't dry on the wood, why?
3. I there some sort of coating I have to put on the wood before I paint and any coating I put over the paint after I finish? What are they called?

Answer 1

If the wood has been treated it might not take the paint well. Use a gesso primer first and make sure it is completely dry before you begin your painting.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I used to have a sign business that specialized in hand carved wood.
1. Prime the wood. You can buy primer, or... make your own.
1part wtihe paint to 2 parts thinner. Allow to dry and apply 2-3 coats. If there are clumps brush with pure thinner. the thinner seeps into the wood and takes some of the paint with it.

2. if you have a strong grain pattern apply 1 coat of white paint.
Let dry, then sand lightly with a very fine sand paper or fine steel wool.

3. apply your finish coat(s) until the desired color is reached.
Let paint dry fully between coats and use the fine steel wool between coats.

And acrylic craft paint is great for wood projects. I used alkyd paints that only dry about 99.95% done. Alkyds resist fading and cracking, but the mostly dry blend is prone to denting.

Answer 4

Painting on wood is very traditional. The first paintings on wood were done with Tempra (egg yolk and pigment). Later on we have many examples of oil paint on wood panel.

acrylic paint is also ok. It should dry pretty fast. just be patient.

the best wood to paint on is oak, since it is less bound to expand and distort over time.

before you start, you shuld prime the panel with shellac (golden flakes, partly soluble in turpentine) or just gesso. this is done to control the absorbency of the wood.

after that, you can start painting!

regarding varnish:

If you use oil paint, for the traditional look you can use dammar varnish. you must wait at least six months before you apply it to avoid cracks.

for acrylic use a special acrylic varnish.

varnish is not a necessity. it is optional. it protects the paint, gives it a gloss and helps saturate the colors a little bit.
many paintings on wood are not varnished.

hope this helps. good luck.

Answer 5

very simple.... buy a wood primer or texture white give a coat of it in the piece that u have.... then do ur painting on it with acrylics after it dries...... then give a coat of picture varnish..

Answer 6

I know there are an specific painting for wood in Michael's; came in about 3 or four inches long plastic cylinder...

Answer 7

Lightly sand the piece then wipe with a tack cloth. Use a primer like Kilz then you can paint with whatever medium you wish. Good Luck!

Answer 8

any paint will do as long as you varnish it at the end

Answer 9

i doont know