How to Use Venetian Plaster & Toscana Milk Paint

 

Plaster is one of the oldest building materials in history, with the first evidence of it dating back nearly 9,500 years. Venetian plaster became popular around the 15th century, when it was made from slaked (crumbled) limestone and marble. Painters and artists found that applying several layers of plaster to a wall would provide depth and smooth texture that couldn’t be replicated with other paint.

 

In ancient times, as in modern times, Venetian plaster is thinly applied to a wall to create a visual and textual richness that resembles polished stone. Over time, the slaked stone also ages into a finish that is stronger than any painted wall, which is why Venetian plaster has retained its popularity even today. Venetian plaster also has a unique, crystalline finish that isn’t found in other plasters. This is what gives Venetian plaster that shine you can’t find elsewhere.

 

At Amy Howard at Home, we’ve created a high-quality Venetian plaster that provides truly endless possibilities for a variety of projects. Easy to work with and highly textured, our Venetian plaster has three ingredients: lime, calcium carbonate, and marble dust. This simple recipe is perfect for creating an organic, natural, historic look in your home.

 

But many people wonder how to get colored plaster since our Venetian plaster comes in a beautiful creamy white. The answer is simple: milk paint! Milk Paint and Venetian Plaster Create Superb Finishes

 

Our Toscana Milk Paint can’t be rivaled in terms of quality or rich color, and it’s a perfect complement to our Venetian plaster. That’s because many of our milk paint pigments are sourced from Italy, using all-natural colors from quarries in the region. It also comes in a powder, instead of a liquid, which means that it can be added to the plaster without compromising the texture or quality.

 

You can mix our milk paint with our Venetian plaster to get the color and the texture you want for your creations. Amy demonstrates the right portions of plaster, milk paint, and water in the video, but it’s important to always mix powder first before adding water. You’ll also need to prime a surface with One Step Paint to ensure the plaster adheres properly.

 

You can also finish your Venetian plaster surfaces with beautiful Light Wax to create an aged, yet polished, surface, which Amy models in the video. She also shows you how to use our stencils to create wall or furniture accents that last a lifetime.

 

With this mixture of Toscana Milk Paint and Venetian Plaster, you can really explore your creativity and test new, unique applications all over your home. Our variety of Toscana Milk Paint colors will make it easy to customize your next project and make it a perfect fit for your home – simply mix and add water!

 

Make sure to see how Amy applies the milk paint and Venetian plaster in this week’s Finish Friday, as well as her tips for priming and finishing your surfaces. You can also tune in next Friday to see the newest episode of Finish Fridays, which airs live at noon CST on Instagram and on our Facebook page.

 

 

Back before the seemingly infinite rows of paint chips you find yourself looking through at the home improvement store…. back before the large-scale manufacturing of gallons and gallons of paint… back before having to carefully choose between eggshell, satin, matte, glossy, and so many other finishes…

 

Thousands of years before the world of spray paint, acrylic paint, oil-based paint, latex paint, chalkboard paint, and even washable paints… there was milk paint.

 

Some of the earliest cave paintings known to man were created with a very basic combination of milk, lime, and earth pigments. As these formulations were refined over time, milk paint coatings became more and more beautiful and durable. Many ancient artifacts still retained their vibrant painted designs upon discovery, giving us a unique peek into the color preferences of these historic cultures. Traveling painters in Old World Europe and colonial America would carry pigments with them, mixing their powders with milk and lime from the farm once they happened upon a home where their craft was needed.

 

Although we no longer need access to goats from the farm to make milk paint, it still must be formulated with casein, a protein found in milk, to achieve its unique velvety finish. So the name “milk paint” remains a perfect fit even though it can now be commercially manufactured.

 

Milk paint is essentially a versatile and authentic way to create an Old World finish on any piece of furniture, cabinetry, decorative accent, or even artwork – no matter the age of the actual surface you are refinishing.

 

In its original powder form, true milk paint has an unlimited shelf life. Each of the rich, luxurious pigments in Amy Howard At Home Toscana Milk Paint were sourced from Italy and the South of France. Their authentic provenance from the heart of the Old World ensures a superior finish, color, and vibrancy. With no VOCs or other unsafe commercial ingredients, this milk paint is safe to use anywhere in the home. After mixing with water and removing any clumps or foam, Toscana Milk Paint can be used as-is, thinned to create a glazed patina, or layered multiple times for luxurious, antique depth.

 

Working with Toscana Milk Paint requires close attention, although beautiful results are easy to achieve. It is much thinner than commercial paint you might be more used to, as it it is completely all natural. Working on a horizontal surface is necessary, and several coats are usually needed to create the look you are envisioning. As you agitate your paint and work through a wet edge, imagine yourself in southern Italy painting alongside the old masters in this same way, using the same methodology and brush strokes!

 

In the past, you had to search for years or spend thousands to find a piece with this kind of elegance and drama. Now you can recreate this iconic historic patina in your own garage. Once you are comfortable with the basics, try some of Amy’s more advanced aging techniques using waxes, Dust of Ages, and even Antiquing Glaze with your favorite Toscana Milk Paint colors!

 

Getting Started with Toscana Milk Paint:

1). Choose your favorite Toscana Milk Paint color. Remember, your mixed paint will dry to that exact shade!

 

2). Use this 2.5″ Flat Paint Chip Brush with your milk paint and the specialty 2.0” Round Hog Hair Paint Brush for any waxes you may apply.

 

3). Be sure to protect and seal your painted finish with Matte Sealer or Amy Howard At Home Waxes.

4). For advanced milk paint techniques check out Amy’s latest book Rescue Restore Redecorate.