Things You'll Need:
- You will need several large buckets, water, a large bag of white flour, a smaller bag of colored clay or white kaolin clay with pigments, and mica flakes or fine chopped straw if desired. Brushes and
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Step 1
Prepare the Starch Paste
Add 1 quart white flour to 2 quarts cold water, and set aside. -
Step 2
Cook the Paste
Boil 1 1/2 quarts water. When boiling, add the mixture of flour and cold water. Turn heat to low, and continue to cook until the mixture thickens. Continually stir the bottom to prevent burning. -
Step 3
Make the Paint
For every quart of starch paste, dilute with 2 quarts of water (for 4 quarts of starch paste, dilute with 8 quarts of water). This makes the paste liquid enough to add the other ingredients. Next, add enough colored clay, or white kaolin clay with pigments, to achieve a consistency that will spread easily with a brush, like thick cream. -
Step 4
Add Special Effects
Add mica for a subtle, glittery sheen. Fine (screened) chopped straw can also be added. If adding either or both, use a little less clay, as the mica and straw will thicken the mix. -
Step 5
Application and Polishing
Apply with a brush, and when the paint has set but is still moist, use a damp (not wet) tile sponge to polish the surface, remove excess dust and reveal the straw and mica. A plastic lid with the edges cut off can also be used as a flexible scraper to further polish the surface to a burnished glow. You may wish to apply a second coat and repeat the process.
