Do you know that you can transform your furniture into a masterpiece? This is what we will discover with a great artist Llewellyn Krastev, as she will explain to us the different steps to take before painting the furniture and bringing the old pieces a new life.

The First Thing To Do

1 Cleaning: use a little bit of water mixed with TSP on a cloth. Don't use too much water cause it can cause cracks.

2 Remove any dust with a clean, dried fabric.

3 Make the necessary repairs with a food filler, fix drawers, anything to make it functional.

4 Sand the whole piece. This makes for a clean, smooth finish, allowing paint or primer to stick.

5 After sanding, use prime. It protects the wood and prevents tannins and stains from bleeding through the process of painting.

How To Paint The Furniture

Paint in layers. The first is a base layer to block in colors and the overall idea.

The second and third coats, sometimes fourth, slowly add more detail to the base, painting parts out and making the painting come together.

The last layer is the highlights and final details of the painting. After the painting on the front is done, paint the sides, sand, and paint the drawer edges to get off any clumps of paint left and make them pretty.

Add a top coat to protect and create a lasting finish.

When The Artist's Talents Show Up

American artist Llewellyn Krastev explained to us:

"Most pieces speak to me in a way. They have more personality than a normal white square of canvas, and creating the perfect finish or scene for each piece is important to me as an artist. Most of the time, I will sit and stare at the piece and imagine different scenes. Does it need a dark stormy ocean? A calm sunset over a field? It could be anything, but what will fit the styling of the furniture?"

"All of these things I try to take into account when creating a piece. I also think because I started with refinishing furniture and not the art, I built a good base of understanding of what will create beauty in furniture. Years of mistakes, sanding and starting over, and trial and error have been incredibly helpful as painting furniture in and of itself is an art."

Et voilà, the true beauties of a great artist.

Find more about Llewellyn Krastev's art at worntowhimsy