The graining process

Ok, .. so you want to know a bit more about the tricks of graining and how we make it look so real.

First off ... you've gotta be patient. These finishes develop in layers. The first one or two layers may not look like much. But with the proper patience,hand and eye ... your ugly duckling will become a swan.

While an ok graining can be done in two layers .... paint can only do so much. Stopping with two layers will leave a finish that lacks depth and luminosity.

When looking at a real piece of wood... it's beauty come not only from the design but also its depth. You can actually look into the wood and see the grain subtly dissapear into and out of the seperating pulp membrane.

We CAN do this with paint, .. but like I said, it takes patience.

The trick is in working with transparent layers of paint. Often times five or more layers, each adding a bit more character than the one before.

Here is my thought/layering process when graining a quartersawn plank of oak.

Here is my thought/layering process when graining a quartersawn plank of oak.

I suggest doing this with pretty much anything that you're looking to create with any reality.

I may start off on a piece of paper with a pencil. Sketching the grain that I see, trying to figure out the what and why the grain is doing what it is doing. Once I'm comfortable with sketching the grain. It's time to get into the paint.

Time to be brave ... get some paint on there.

If you're working with an acrylic system .... Make sure it's a manageable area that you can handle and that it doesn't dry on you before you're done manipulating it. You'll have a bit more time if you're working in oils.

This first layer will show the first bit of figuring. Brush the glaze on with a brush. Then with a spalter brush, hold it tight to the bristles and pull your sap grains. With practice you'll learn the movement of your hand and how you can instantly create some of the more beautiful characteristics of this species.

With a cloth in hand ... you'll wipe out the cross pattern that is shown crossing the straight grain. (whew... told you to get a piece of real wood to look at)

Let this layer dry.

Time for a second transparent layer of glaze. Put it on evenly and have a lagre toothed graining comb available. Normally you would trace to the end of the heart grain. But being that this is quartersawn... you'll have no heart grain.

So pull the comb at a slight angle to the straight grain... or if you want a ribboned effect, you can pull it straight with the grain. Giving your hand a slight shake as you pull will create a beautiful ribbon in the grain.

Let this layer dry.

now lets start "staining" your finish. You're not really staining it .. we're still using paint, but that's basically my thinking at this point. starting to take the wood to its final color. This coat goes on evenly ... you can add and any moires or other subtlties on this layer.

Let this layer dry.

We're getting there ... step back and look at what you've created. See anything that's bugging you. you have one last chance to correct it. One more layer of slight color ... evening things out and getting ready for the final protective coat.

Let this dry.

Put on the final two coats of clear lustre. and we're done.

Now this is simply how I do the quartersawn oak grain, the processes change according to the species of wood being created.