Coloring rottenstone?

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cjmst3k

cjmst3k

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Apr 25, 2006
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Anyone ever tint rottenstone to be a little darker, etc?

I'm making a frame out of the below moulding and rottenstone is much brighter and whiter, where as this is a darker pumpkin color. Its too dry and gritty to consider acrylic. Not sure what other options there are aside from putty, but i was hoping the putty would have rottenstone clining to it too.


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You could find some pastels the color you need and shave them with a mat blade to create a powder that you could use as you would the rottenstone. I have used this technique for doing colored panels on French mats, scrubbing the powder into the mat surface with a foam brush. Also, you might find pastel powders in small jars at good art supply stores. Perhaps Ellen or Gumby will chime in with appropriate product names.
:cool: Rick
 
Powdered tempera.. Makes a great finishing material mixed with paste wax too! L
 
Luddite said:
Powdered tempera.. Makes a great finishing material mixed with paste wax too! L
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Thanks guys!

Is powdered tempera available at the average large craft store? I have 3 of them within 4 miles.
 
A lot of variables but you can try some brown KIWI Scuff Cover. 2 bucks at Wal-mart and another dollar or two more at the local grocery store.
 
I've used tempera colors for this purpose. The most useful colors are Black/White/Burnt Umber/Yellow Ochre. Maybe a Green if you want a verdgris look.
With these few you can mix just about any shade you need.

* The cheapo stuff in big buckets for schools does the job just as well as the more refined artist's grades. :thumbsup:
 
prospero said:
I've used tempera colors for this purpose. The most useful colors are Black/White/Burnt Umber/Yellow Ochre. Maybe a Green if you want a verdgris look.
With these few you can mix just about any shade you need.

* The cheapo stuff in big buckets for schools does the job just as well as the more refined artist's grades. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yep, I get mine free. I have a friend that is a first grade teacher,the school gets the stuff by the metric buttload...so I just get some in a small container and drag it home as needed. L.
 
Luddite said:
Yep, I get mine free. I have a friend that is a first grade teacher,the school gets the stuff by the metric buttload...so I just get some in a small container and drag it home as needed. L.
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Same here.;)

I like term 'metric buttload'. I will endeavour to use it more often in general conversation.
 
How do you apply the rottenstone/tempera to a frame to achieve this look?

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I give the whole frame a coat of wax (dilute with mineral spirits and brush on) and then wipe off the excess but don't polish. Leave a while until the solvent in the wax has evaporated and then dust all over and spread it about with a big paintbrush. Then give it a good buffing. This gives a nice subtle toning.

The 'wet' method gives a heavier covering.
 
The wet method doesn't have to be "heavier" but it does always look "painted on".

Dusting the fresh wax then continue to dust right into the "polished" state will give
you the random look of the dust of age.

For an even better look, mark the "up" on the frame, and work heavier along the
bottom rail and gradient up the vertical rails. Same for "fly specing".

In a glass bowl, you can put some pumice stone (what most call rottenstone) and slowly
mix "mortar & pestle" style some dry tempera or gauche. Let dry for a day, then use.
 
Taking supplies from first graders? Really? I hope at least it's one of those spendy private schools. I suggest spending a couple bucks at your local art supply. (Like a lot of first grade teachers around here have to do, if they even have an art program left)
A little dilute glue makes a good binder in a pinch too.
 
BTW - Found that chalk pastel shavings worked perfectly to get a color match, and had a lot of colors in a $5 box. Powdered tempra came in a huge jar for $6, one color at a time.
 
Terry Hart cpf said:
Taking supplies from first graders? Really? I hope at least it's one of those spendy private schools. I suggest spending a couple bucks at your local art supply. (Like a lot of first grade teachers around here have to do, if they even have an art program left)
A little dilute glue makes a good binder in a pinch too.
Click to expand...

Not like they didn`t get that pound of flesh out of me... I painted ALL the murals in the school, and volunteer my hiney off..I was there last night until 1 AM preparing a class project on penguins, going back tomorrow morning to assist the students. BTW, most of the stuff I "pinch" is slated to be tossed at the end of the semester, or school year..AMAZING what gets wasted there! NYAH! :) L
 
Ordinary white emulsion paint is fine for producing the dusty effects. Applied diluted, it will dry to a gray color, very similar to rottenstone. But you can vary the strength from a subtle hint to a heavy coating.

How it works will vary between mouldings. Depends on how the surface is finished. Heavily ornate mouldings will grab the wash in the little valleys and retain more. Same with mouldings with groovy sections. The trick with wet washes is to give the whole surface a good coat and work it well in. If the paint is heavily diluted it will 'bead up', but keep working it in. Wipe off the excess with a soft rag. Then get a soft dry brush and keep working over the surface as the paint dries. Give it a wipe with a paper towel as you go. The corners can be tricky, but use the dry brush to pull the wash out. A slightly heavier accumulation in the corners adds to the hand-finished look.
Takes a bit of practice to get the right effect.

A dab of black added to the white paint will make the wash bluer. Don't overdo it as the wash will dry darker than the paint. Add some yellow ochre to impart a greenish tone.
 
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