Wood graining and linseed paint.

[plasticpigeon]

Toby, can you not reference your own web page? Wikipedia is hardly "peer reviewed". I have seen newspaper articles as references on Wikipedia. As far as I can tell when I read a newspaper article about something I know about it is likely to be erroneous, so I have to assume the articles I know nothing about are also likely to be wrong. Practical skills are rarely written up in an academic way either so as you say, what references are available, apart from perhaps very old books on the subject. I know this sounds facetious but it isn't meant that way.

I was impressed that Nigel Watts had a go at simulating crotch mahogany on his doors. That is very brave. I have decided to go over my woodwork with a darker glaze but with no attempt to simulate any wood at all, just to give texture. The original woodwork was I think probably just dragged.

 

[plasticpigeon]

These videos are fascinating to watch if anyone is interested in graining. They are the best I have found.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6JRvk9_qWk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSry6hVPuXc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRAQFG609V4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2evUYtyLrDA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5hLLorPzOA

 

[Toby Newell]

Hope Nigel is ok, his last post was last March.

Yes, agree, his graining is what I would describe as 'naive' or basic but in the grand scheme of things probably looks the part and is very period. It probably looks very good.

The reason why talking to him might be helpful is his level of diligence, I am certain he spent weeks or months reading several books or articles before having a go himself. So he may be able to give pointers on what not to do for example. I am sure he practiced before doing his doors.

The excellent results Nigel gets are testament to the fact that careful research, patience and practice are really all you need to get acceptable results that often meet or exceed what you could expect from a full time experienced professional. Highly impressive.

And yes! I only watched the first 15 seconds of the first video. That's all you need. The guy is legit, that is how you do that. He's very good, just like Maybanks Snr who I worked alongside. Looks effortless, bastard. Takes a lot of artistic skill and practice to be able to wipe off the medualry rays to look realistic. Probably better for amateurs to physically copy a photograph or an actual piece of wood. Da Vinci could draw a horse from memory, but only after years of study of copying the actual thing his eye was looking at. That guy has been doing that for decades. That is exactly how it's done. Everso slightly more involved than rubbing brown wax on a surface!

He confirms my pigment choice :mrgreen: for the glaze. Raw umber, raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna.

Ground can be raw Sienna with some white and yellow.

 

[LadyArowana]

I can confirm Nigel is fine, he’s been around “The Other Place” and is busy as ever with stunning house projects.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I can confirm Nigel is fine, he’s been around “The Other Place” and is busy as ever with stunning house projects.

Haha, yes causing trouble as usual!! He put some pictures of his grained doors up the other day, they were very impressive. He said he used a home made glaze made with linseed oil, turpentine, driers and earth pigments, or is that linseed oil, turpentine, driers, and earth pigments.

 

[Cubist]

Too long ago to think about now my father bought a house in which every internal door had been wood-grained. He never liked them as he felt the colour,as he put it, was too reminiscent of the contents of an infants nappy. As a consequence he took avery opportunity to re-paint or dispose of them until the house was almost free of the stuff. The last doors days were numbered and my father had a plan to evict it until by chance it was scraped while moving some furniture.

Puzzled, the old boy decided to strip a little more of the unpleasantly hued wood-grain and revealed finely figured pitch pine frame and panel door!

He, and I, have never understood why whoever was responsible decided to go to the trouble of wood-graining when a simple coat of varnish would have produced a much more attractive, and less stomach churning, finish. :roll:

 

[Toby Newell]

That's good to hear. No idea what 'the other place' is. Another forum?

Pitch pine is an acquired taste, especially with warm and yellowing varnish.

If the scumble was made with earth pigments, many of these aren't very light fast. After a few years a lovely warm colour can turn a turgid green.

I suppose it has a lot to do with peer pressure and fashion.

Few people not living before or after the 1970's would agree that gloss white painted hardboard is more aesthetically pleasing than hand made panelled doors / stair banisters. But that was a thing. Along with large collars and orange kipper ties.

 

[LadyArowana]

That's good to hear. No idea what 'the other place' is. Another forum?

The book of face :lol: Long time ago a few of us got distracted by going there, and so in a nod to the House of Lords/ Commons convention it got referred to as the other place!

 

[Feltwell]

The book of face :lol:

Ahh, not found anyone from here on there. My kids inform me Facebook is for old people, which to them is anyone over about 25 :roll:

I only recently joined, or rather Mrs F set up an account for me as she was fed up with me nicking her account to talk to people. I was barred from her account - like a digital divorce! :lol:

 

[plasticpigeon]

My first attempt at quarter sawn oak on a single door panel. This hasn't been overgained yet but looks sort of promising. I'm wondering if it is worth the effort though.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Now with overgraining.

 

[RBailey]

Wow, very good!

 

[88v8]

From what I recall of the graining in our first house, yours looks just as good.

You'll get quicker with practice.
Just so long as you don't get to the end of the job, look at your first efforts and think nah!

Ivor