How to Create an Aged Verdigris Finish

A faux verdigris look is a fun way to upgrade the finish on ceramic, metal and wood objects that have seen better days. Here's how to get it.

Things You'll Need

• Brushes
• Clear-coat Spray Paints
• Metallic Copper Or Gold Spray Paints
• Sea Sponges For Sponge Painting
• dark, medium and pastel verdigris-color acrylic paints

Instructions

1. Clean the surface of the object you'll be painting. Let it dry.

2. Spray paint the object, or large areas of it, with metallic copper or metallic gold paint. Allow to dry thoroughly.

3. Paint much of the rest of the object with a dark teal green (a color about halfway between turquoise and hunter green) acrylic paint. Brush painting or sponge painting works best, but be sure to leave a fair amount of the metallic paint exposed, because you want an irregularly mottled finish. Allow to dry thoroughly. (You can use a blow-dryer to speed the process if the piece isn't too big.)

4. Highlight with a contrasting, lighter shade of verdigris green. You can achieve this color by mixing white paint into some of the green paint you used earlier, or purchase a separate color. Allow to dry thoroughly.

5. Highlight sparingly with small touches of a pale mint green paint that you purchase or mix. Allow to dry thoroughly.

6. Spray the entire surface with a protective layer of clear acrylic with a matte finish to discourage scratches.

Tips & Warnings

• This finish is great for aluminum lawn furniture (it's easy to touch up because you don't need a perfect color match), ceramic-base lamps (avoid scratching with fingernails when you turn on the lamp), picture frames and wrought iron furniture.

• Be sure you always let a bit of the copper or gold paint show through.

• Use spray paint in well-ventilated areas to avoid being overcome by fumes.