They wouldn’t leave the house without ’em!
At a time when everything was done by hand and craftsmanship was revered, 19th century painters were skilled in design, mixing color, and even a little chemistry…
Scroll to see some of the tools, tricks & techniques used by Victorian Era building painters. Use these historic techniques to preserve the character of your historic building.
1. Historic Color Plates
Even the greatest artists need a little inspiration! “Plates” were a great reference to keep in your pocket when mixing and placing color.
Check out these authentic 19th-century, historic paint schemes:
2. Brushes & Tools
Did you know that a single house project could require DOZENS of brushes and tools? Different techniques demanded particular sizes & shapes– like distempering, varnishing, or pasting.
Some common brushes & tools are shown below:
3. Pigment
Ready-made paint was not widely available until the late 18th century. Before that, painters (also commonly known as “colourmen”) were skilled in hand-grinding pigments and mixing them with other components to make paint.
Habitually, pigment was mixed with oil and turpentine to give paint the correct consistency and desired finish & sheen.
4. Painter’s Glossary
Some color terms that may sound like jargon to you and me, but were common conversation for these historic painters:
Interested in learning more?
Attend our Historic Paints & Sip, an immersive one-night-only event that features instruction with nationally-recognized building preservation expert Steve Stuckey.
Find tickets and event details here.
Preserving the past, for tomorrow
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