CHALK OR MINERAL?

One thing that I’m asked almost every other day is, what’s the difference between mineral and chalk paints. Lucky for me I have the advantage of a shop/studio to showcase the difference between the two.

Let’s start with mineral paint: The most obvious feature of Artisan mineral paint is the eggshell finish, or what I call a more contemporary look. I always recommend mineral paint for beginners for the following reasons-

·       Mineral paint is water based and VOC free

·       mineral paint glides on like velvet.

·       It has a built-in primer and blocker and used on raw or painted surfaces

·       It UV resistant and can be used indoors or outside.

·       It has a self-leveling compound that eliminates visible brush strokes

·       It has a built-in sealer.

·       If the worst were to occur, you can patch paint without a trace.

·       mineral paint guarantees you a fabulous finish from just one pot.

I could elaborate on the many other advantages and techniques one can employ with mineral paints, but for now, let’s address the basics.

If you’re starting out on your upcycling journey, mineral paint is a good place to start because you only need to buy the one pot of paint and start painting!

Chalk paint has been the ‘go to’ for furniture upcyclers for a very long time. Unlike mineral paint, you would need to use a primer over raw wood, and a sealer such as wax or polyurethane. You can achieve a smooth or a textured finish using hatched or even brush strokes, depending on the look you’re after. You can apply it thick or thinly to achieve a vintage country texture or a sleek smooth look . I like chalk because you can manipulate and play with it – or perhaps I’m just comfortable with a product I’ve used for years?

The Artisan range of products are water based and VOC free, which is of paramount importance to me and my customers, as it should be for you too. Reducing furniture waste loses all credibility if you don’t care about your upcycling supplies. While this ‘either/or’ explanation about furniture paint is very basic, I’d encourage you to buy a small pot of both and see which you prefer – or come to one of my workshops and I can show you all the wonderful properties of both.

Happy painting using the paint of your choice and please send photos of your achievements.

Deb