Crazy House 947


The look of crazed porcelain or old barn paint is a look I love!
For this book I used Golden's Crackle Paste.



There are definitely techniques and other mediums you will want to try with this paste so here are a few tips.

Use a palette knife to spread the paste evenly.

Spreading the paste very thin(1/8 inch or less in thickness) will dry quicker and give a crazed porcelain finish.

Applying it thicker, say to a 1/4 inch thickness will take up to 24 hours to dry and give a much deeper crackle.

Layering over an uneven surface of dry light molding paste or heavy gels will vary the surface leaving uncracked areas.

Paint over the dry surface with any glaze or acrylic paint let rest for a few seconds then remove the excess with a rag to accentuate the cracks.

Dark paint colors are best to accent the cracks.

Rigid surfaces are best for obvious reasons. Bending the crackle finish could pop off the paste.

Do not use a heat gun or hair dryer to speed the drying time it could impact the final finish. A fan is a good alternative.


On this altered book I started by spreading the Crackle Paste over a surface of uneven light molding paste on the front cover and a thin coat of the Crackle Paste by itself on the back cover. I left a fan on the book overnight so it would be completely dry in the morning. After applying a thin coat of fluid acrylic(Quinacridone Crimson) I rubbed away the excess paint to reveal the fine cracks then added a coat of navy blue shoe polish paying special attention to the spine. Add a bit of pale green spray paint to the edges of the book and splotches to the front and back covers. Glue on a few embellishments to the front cover to finish the cover of this house book. Now the real work begins inside!