How to Recreate Verdigris

Choose flowers that accent the bucket.

Few things give metal the impression of aged beauty quite like a verdigris patina. Verdigris is the familiar name for the blue-green covering that occurs when copper, brass or bronze is exposed to sea air and saltwater over a period of time. The verdigris patina is attractive to designers who want to create a feeling of age in a space. For it to occur naturally, all those elements must exist. However, the luminous, blue-green tones of verdigris are relatively simple to reproduce on a cheap, galvanized bucket.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket Metal primer Amber shellac Gold, bronze, or copper paint Aqua verdigris paint Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Sand the surface of the bucket. Use the sandpaper to lightly sand the outside metal of the bucket. After sanding the bucket then prime it with metal primer. If you use spray primer be sure it gets a complete covering.

2. Allow this primer coat to dry. You will need to wait between two to three hours for the primer to dry completely. Inspect the bucket to see if a second coating is needed. If a second coating of primer is needed then repeat this step.

3. Coat the bucket with gold, bronze, copper paint. Allow to metallic paint to dry. Again this will take around r two to three hours. You can paint a second coat of metallic paint but since you will be covering this layer with two more layers it is not strictly needed.

4. Paint the bucket with amber shellac. Coat the bucket with the amber shellac evenly. It is best to paint from the rim of the bucket to the bottom in slow even strokes and refresh the shellac with every new brush stroke. Allow the coating to dry for 30 minutes.

5. Make aqua verdigris paint. You can purchase pre-made aqua verdigris paint but it is easy to make your own. Mix white acrylic paint with aqua-green acrylic paint and enough water to make a watery consistency.

6. 

   Apply the faux patina finish. Sponge some aqua verdigris paint on and allow the bucket to dry for one or two hours. Apply a coat of polyurethane varnish.

7. Select flowers or plants that work well with the blue-green tones of the final verdigris. For instance, the complementing purple of violas make a beautifully arrangement when potted in a faux finish verdigris bucket.

Tips & Warnings

• Always paint in open areas.