Reality Daydream

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Colorful Wood Stain Artwork on Furniture

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Last week I shared a sneak peek on Instagram of a new decorative staining project I’ve been working on. I’ve been wanting to try staining with various colors, and when RustOleum sent me some of their new stain shades to play with using my Wood Stain Art Technique, it was only a matter of time!

Wood stain shades by RustOleum

We’ve had this really amazing clawfoot table taking up room in our garage for awhile now. The previous owners had cut it down to be a coffee table, and Nick rebuilt it to be a dining table again.

Antique Clawfoot Table restoration

He also built a leaf so the table could extend, and he added a center support pedestal. Those leaves? THEY’RE WOOD.

carved wood leaf pedestal for claw foot table restoration

He likes to challenge himself and leave a personal touch on his pieces… which I admire so much. I’m more of a JUST GET IT DONE type of person. You can feel free to ‘read between the lines’ on that one. Heh.

He wanted me to do a stained design on the top surface as the finishing touch. Doing a floral design made the most sense because of the leafy pedestal. Since there’s a leaf, I decided to do an asymmetrical design with some roses on just one side of the table. That way it looks amazing with AND without the leaf!

I found an inspiration pic I loved, and traced it onto a transparency… modifying it a bit here and there as necessary.

Stained artwork on wooden table top!

And then, you guessed it, I used my overhead projector to blast the image onto the table and trace with a pencil.

How to paint with stain on a wooden table top

I decided to use 3 different shades of stain… RustOleum Dark Walnut, Cabernet, and Sage.

Learn how to use wood stain to make amazing artwork on furniture!

Every single time I do one of these Shading with Wood Stain pieces, I go through the same rotation of emotions. This pretty much sums it up:

Sounds about right! THE CREATIVE PROCESS

The rest is history! You’re going to have to watch the video to see how it turned out! Muahahaha! It’s only 2 minutes long, so your tortured suspense won’t last long.

 

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If you’re interested in trying this technique, but are a little intimidated, I have a Beginner’s Tutorial HERE, as well as a video demonstration below!

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This ‘Shading with stain’ technique is something I’m so proud of! There are TONS of you that have emailed me with pictures of your stained artwork (some examples here!), and it’s SO AWESOME! It’s the best feeling in the world to know that I inspired someone to create something! You guys are amazing!

Sawdust-Embryos_thumb2

If you haven’t already… check out some previous stained pieces I’ve done!

Artwork-using-wood-stain...-its-easier-than-it-looks-Sawdust-and-Embryos Using-raspberry-juice-to-stain-wood-and-make-awesome-artwork-Sawdust-and-Embryos_thumb
Shading-with-Wood-Stain-Technique-by[1] Shading with Stain {Gradual Staining Technique by Sawdust and Embryos}_thumb
End-table-using-Wood-Stained-Artwork-technique-by-Sawdust-and-Embryos_thumb

 

 

Thanks for pinning!

Use wood stain to make artwork! CRAZY time-lapse video! {Sawdust and Embryos}

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Comments

  2. 42

    You are 100% badass. Thank you for sharing your technique. I told my artsy daughter she can do the magnolia for me but that you “make it look so simple, I *almost* feel like I could do it myself.” (Mind you, my first F was in 5th grade art.) I’m a word girl, so reading your stuff is great with all the directions, not to mention proper spelling and full sentence usage. Aces, lady, aces!

    Anyhoo, I am just really in adoration of your technique and the stuff you’ve created and beautified. Thank you for sharing it with the masses and also I’m going to possibly steal (not for profit) your creative process sign; and by “possibly,” I mean I am stealing it so thanks!

    Reply
  3. 43

    BIG HUGS – I love your out excusing your audience – you can’t draw but neither can I – lol
    All good things to you

    Reply
  5. 46

    Hello. I love all your work. Have you ever used acrylic paints (colors)? I just got a tiny dresser and going to give it a try since I’ve always love the flowers.

    Reply
    • 47

      I haven’t tried using acrylic paints with this particular technique. But I’m sure it would work! It might just not be as translucent by allowing the woodgrain to show through. If you decide to give it a go, let me know how it turns out! I’d love to see pics!

      Reply
  6. 48

    Hi, Bethany it’s really nice, you are blessed with a great talent and seeing your work has inspired me. God bless you. Wish great success. Thank you. Sebastian D’Souza

    Reply
  9. 52

    Hello Beth I just stubbled on your work and you are amazing. I would love to try this I am a decorative painter I have a site on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/daisycustompainting. It is so much fun. I just wanted to ask you…do you think I would be able to use a paint brush with stains. I don’t think I could do it with rags. I guess I should try it right? Thank you for sharing you wonderful work. Diane

    Reply
  10. 53

    ABSOLUTELY THEE COOLEST!!!! I can totally relate to your artistic thought process. Thanks for putting it into words. Do you have a favorite finish coat or sealer?

    Reply
    • 54

      Cody… we’ve tried a lot of different sealers, and our favorite is still just your basic Minwax Polyurethane!

      Reply
  11. 55

    LOVE this! I just shared it on my facebook page…it is AWESOME! You are awesome! What kind of stain…paint? did you use for coloring the roses and leaves?

    Reply
    • 56

      Thank you! I used RustOleum stains for this: Dark Walnut, Cabernet, and Sage were the 3 stain shades.

      Reply
  14. 59

    I want YOU to do this on my claw~foot table ~ same colors ~ same pattern!!!! Seriously ~ if you can’t do it ~ you have to find someone who can do it for me! YOU are amazing!

    Reply
  16. 61

    I saw that you were telling people on the video on FB that you felt bad people were thinking you free-handed it, when you traced it onto the table first. PLEASE know that I could have traced the same exact image and it would have looked nothing like this at all. You are SO artistically talented. Your shading technique is amazing!

    Reply
  17. 63

    Love Love Love this !!! I’ll have to try this!!! Looks like fun,
    and I know your process mine is the same when ever I design a piece!!

    Reply
  18. 64

    That is amazing how you created that table top, simply beautiful. You are truly blessed with great talent. I’m so glad to find your blog. Thank You.

    Reply
  19. 65

    I am SO impressed, this turned out beautiful! You are seriously talented!

    Also, your creative process sounds a lot like mine 🙂

    Reply
  22. 69

    Omgoodness that is beeeaauuuutiful! One of my favorite pieces you’ve done! (And that is seriously saying something cause I love so much of y’alls work )

    Reply
  23. 71

    Are. You. SERIOUS?!?!? That belongs in an art gallery! If you don’t keep it and sell it for less than $2,000, you’re crazy!! You never cease to amaze me with your talent.

    Reply
  24. 73

    That is beautiful! I received some of that colored stain from Rust-Oleum, too – can’t wait to create with it! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  26. 76

    LOVE LOVE LOVE~~~~ EXCELLENT JOB GORGEOUSLY DONE (is goregeously a word…Yep, it is now!!!)

    Reply

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