Rag Washing Glaze Techniques

Soft Antiquing

• In soft antiquing, a lightly colored glaze is added with a paintbrush or roller. Then, very lightly with a lint free rag, some of the glaze is removed to simulate the appearance of natural aging. To perfect an antique look, take a look at the object you are glazing and consider where it would be handled and rubbed over time. Things like handles, raised moldings or edges are the perfect places to begin. This look can be modified for your own personal taste: remove a small amount of glaze for a subtle look, or go crazy with the rags for a more distressed effect. This effect is great for furniture, vases and even canvasses.

Color Rubbing

• Color rubbing is similar to soft antiquing but the final effect varies greatly. In color rubbing, a dark colored glaze is added to a relief or molding and rubbed off the raised areas. This gives extra depth to the shadows and emphasizes the relief. The obvious choice for color rubbing might seem to be a black glaze but black can provide too sharp a contrast. Consider using colors such as different shades of brown. Remember that it is easier to add more color than to remove it once the project is dry, so start this project lightly and add more color later if the effect is not dramatic enough. Color rubbing works well on molding, statues, ornate frames and furniture.

Ragging

• Ragging is a relatively simple process that can be modified to create a whole variety of looks. After a colored glaze is added, rags are pressed up against the wet glaze to give texture to the paint. You can pat the rag lightly across the surface for a subtle stippling or press harder for a more dramatic effect. Make sure you use a lint free rag for all these methods to avoid getting fuzz in the glaze. This method is great for anything: walls, furniture, canvas, and decorative objects.

Rag Rolling

• Rag rolling is similar to ragging but the effect is more muted. In rag rolling an object or wall is painted and then, when dry, a clear glaze is added on top. A rag is then used to add texture to the clear glaze giving the paint underneath a watermark look. Rag rolling works well on everything from walls and floors to furniture and cabinetry.