Tole Painting
Tips, Advice, & Favorites
Here are the results of the Tole painting contest in September,2000
Tole Painting Tips
After use, make sure you clean your brushes really well and store carefully. They will
then be ready for your next project and will last much longer.
Clean your brushes after each use.~Thanks to Carol Sherman
For ease in painting small pieces, wind masking tape on the roll backwards so sticky side
is out and attach your pieces to tape. You can now paint them and keep your hands free of
paint.~Thanks to Lori Shives
Keep those old toothbrushes. They're great for making splashes of paint on your
project.
Make sure you clean your brushes well after use. They will last a lot longer.
Dry brushes facing down.
Poke a hole in top of coffee tin for brushes to sit, you can also paint the tin
~Thanks to Denyse Speer
If paint has dried on your brush, DON'T soak the brush in water. Instead, dip it
back in the paint and work it gently on a piece of scrap wood or paper. The fresh
paint will soften the old after a few minutes and you can then rinse your brush.
~Thanks to Kelley Delano
Use good brushes~Thanks to Beth Tindall
Use good brushes. They make painting sooo much easier!
Relax and have fun, don't try to make everything perfect. It always looks good in
the end
My favorite tip is to paint on the back of vinyl flooring. It can be cut easily into
pins, ornaments or any shape a wood pattern comes in. Paint on the "fuzzy"
back side just like you would on wood. No need to prepare it. It's easy, looks
great and best of all - it's CHEAP!~Thanks to Kim Wright
When painting an item, you may want to see how a particular color or technique would look.
I lay piece of clear plastic over the top of my work and apply. If I like it,
I then apply the same technique to the wood for real this time. Otherwise, I'm glad
I used my plastic!~Thanks to Cathy George
Search tole painting websites to get your own inspiration for what you want to make
Leave your piece to dry for couple of days before you varnish, sometimes the paint can
come off if you varnish before this time.~Thanks to Edith Mercer
Advice to Beginners
Don't be afraid to try.
Anyone can learn..take it from me......I never held a paint brush in my hand before.
Started tole painting when I retired convinced I had no artistic ability. I
love it and have become addicted. Join a tole painting class and ENJOY!
Practice! Practice! Keep practicing~Thanks to Carol Sherman
PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! and take good care of your brushes~Thanks to Lori Shives
If you have poured some paint you will be needing again (in less than 8 hours) cover it
with plastic wrap and it will keep fine.
Practice practice practice those beginners tole strokes!! Thanks to Debbie Steil
Don't be afraid to try new things. The only way to learn things is to practice.
Learn how to clean and care for your brushes right away. It can be costly if you
don't.~Thanks to Kelley Delano
You need someone who knows how to do tole painting properly to show you how to get the
final look on your finished product to make it look real.
It DOES get easier!~Thanks to Alice Benner
Relax and enjoy yourself.
Don't obsess and develop your own style.
Keep it simple
Try practicing on wax paper first to get the feel of the brushes and various strokes.
~Thanks to Pat L.Galarneau-Trithart
The internet is a great resource for this hobby.Sometimes there are free patterns
available, but many times you can get your own ideas by looking at other peoples work for
inspiration.
Keep a baby food jar filled with Murphys Oil Soap and water, put a piece of scrubby on the
bottom. Great for cleaning brushes!!!Also easy to carry to classes.
Take care to wash brushes carefully after use. They will last longer and hold their
shape longer too. Saves you money in the long run.
Use brown craft paper to practice your strokes on. The paper has a texture of wood
so it feels the same. Regular paper doesn't have as much texture so the feeling would be
different. Usually I paint the paper white first so that the paint is more visible.
The internet is a great source of tips, just search under tole painting and you'll get all
kinds of information
Save all patterns you come across even if they seem too difficult, your skills will
improve quickly with practice and you will be glad to have the extra patterns
Don't Give Up!!
Favorite Tole Magazines
Country Marketplace
Quick and Easy Painting~Thanks to Edith Mercer
Toleworld
Woodstrokes
Painting~Thanks to Carol Sherman
Between the Vines~Thanks to Wendy Jo Gould
Paint Works ~Thanks to Edith Mercer
Favorite Tole Artists
Deb Melaski~Thanks to Denyse Speer
Barbara Lloyd~Thanks to Karen
Doxie Keller~Thanks to Carol Sherman
Roz Stallcup
Tina Ledbetter
Laurie Speltz
Pat Olson~Thanks to Cathy George ,Lori LeComte, Miriam Coriano and Edith Mercer
Jan Way~Thanks to Miriam Coriano
Favorite Tole Painting Site
www.artistsclub.com ~Thanks to
Darlene Gilbert
nightowlcrafters
Dea's Crafty Creations- Thanks to Jane Squires,
Velma Wiseman ,Kelley Delano
and Miriam Coriano
Tole Expressions~Thanks to Denyse Speer
www.millerwoodcrafts.com
~Thanks to Bonnie Brace