The fine hairline crackling effect invents collectors' items with historical charm and antique character and can be applied to oil and acrylic paintings. The interesting effects can be enhanced by using coloured painting grounds or by colouring the fine cracks. The new Schmincke RAPID undercoat 1 is the ideal agent for quick antique effects, but can also be used for modern art work.
Test the crackle varnish prior to your art work on a test piece like the original material, in order to assess the compatibility and interaction of various materials. This way you discover the wide range of crackling effects without damaging your original work. Take care of an even application of all layers and try to keep the conditions unchanged for the various application steps like temperature, thickness of the colour layers, way and time of application to be able to repeat the special effect on the original work. The cracking effect depends above all on the degree of drying of the primer coat RAPID undercoat 1 (50 071). For large scale application, you better work with a big brush or even a roller for paint in order to ensure a fast and even application.
The crackling technique can be applied to oil and acrylic paintings as well as on various, pre-treated, substrates: wood, metal, plastic, paper. The pre-treatment should be done with priming or sizing agents suitable for the respective substrate. RAPID Undercoat 1 should be applied on highly absorbent substrates (20-30% diluted with Turpentine substitute, 50 019) and dry over night. It is very important that the whole substrate is less absorbent in order to achieve an uniform crackling effect.
The crackling technique step by step:
Apply the RAPID undercoat 1 (50 071) evenly on the complete substrate (e.g. a thoroughly dry acrylic painting). The cracking effect depends above all on the degree of drying of the primer coat: the drier the primer coat is when the crackle lacquer 2 (50 075) is applied, the finer the resultant crack structure will be. However, the primer coat RAPID Undercoat 1 must not be completely hardened. A dried coat which is slightly sticky to the touch represents the ideal state. Check the degree of drying with a fingertip for the first time after 50 minutes after applying the primer, than every 10 minutes. The drying time for thin layers is about 60 - 70 minutes.
An even coating of Schmincke crackle lacquer (50 075) can be applied.
The cracking effect arises after several hours when the coating of crackle lacquer dries. A drying time over night is necessary.
Finally, the cracking effects can be coloured with Schmincke oil colours. Works of art achieve an antique character with the careful application of dark oil colour (e.g. MUSSINI® Vandyke brown, 10 667). The colour can be thinned with MUSSINI® painting medium 3 (accelerates drying, 50 040). Use a soft cloth to rub the colour thinly and evenly into the fine cracks.
After drying for at least 24 hours, wash off the watersoluble crackle layer coating carefully, using a sponge and water. If desired, a final coating of primer can be applied after drying the object for further 2 days. You can use RAPID undercoat 1 (50 071) thinned with 20 - 30% Turpentine substitute (50 019).
The described product attributes and application examples have been tested in the Schmincke laboratory. The information is based on our current state of technical findings and experience. Due to the diversity of applications in terms of painting techniques, materials and working conditions, as well as numerous possible influences, this information is based on a general application range. A legally binding guarantee of specific attributes or the suitability for a specific usage purpose cannot be derived from our information; therefore the use of the products must be adapted to the users' individual conditions and tested in trials. For this reason, we cannot provide a warranty for product attributes and/or assume liability for damages that occur in connection with the use of our products.
By the way: Specifics for handling and product safety you will find on our website www.schmincke.de (e.g. download/safety data sheets).
For special questions please don´t hesitate to ask our team in the lab! The best way to get in contact with them is via mail at: laborteam(at)schmincke.de.
