Chalk Paint
6 things you can do differently with chalk paint than with acrylic paint
Matte, opaque and with great adhesion: six tasks where chalk paint is the better choice in the studio.
Acrylic paint is the all-purpose medium of many studios. It is creamy, satin matte and, depending on the shade, transparent to opaque. Chalk Paint pursues a different goal. It covers in every one of its 37 shades, dries matte and waterproof and is a little thicker than Acrylic Paint. That results in tasks that Acrylic Paint cannot solve, or only in a roundabout way.
In some points, Acrylic Paint is not the competitor but the partner. Each point explains where the difference lies and what you do with it at the painting table.
1 Matte and opaque in one coat
All 37 shades of Chalk Paint are opaque. With Acrylic Paint it is mixed: 35 shades cover, the rest are semi-opaque, semi-transparent or transparent. Then there is the finish. Chalk Paint dries matte, Acrylic Paint satin matte.
In the painting, that means: an area of Chalk Paint absorbs the light instead of reflecting it. Color fields look calm and velvety, even under a lamp or next to the window. Its luminosity is therefore moderate. If you are looking for strong luminosity, reach for Acrylic Paint or Aquarylic Color. If you are looking for flat areas, calm and pastel shades, Chalk Paint is the right choice. You can apply it impasto or in several thin layers.
- Try it out: Draw a pencil line on a sheet and paint a chalk shade across it. The line disappears. Repeat this with Acrylic Paint Ultramarine, a transparent shade. The line stays visible.
- Good for: monochrome color fields, calm backgrounds and graphic shapes with clean edges.
2 Priming with Chalk Paint White instead of gesso
Chalk Paint White is suitable for priming canvases and can be used instead of gesso. Of our three paint lines, it is the one we intend for this task. The reason is the high chalk content. It provides opacity and a matte surface on which the next layer sits well.
For you, that means: you save a step. The primer is your first layer of paint at the same time. It also covers up whatever doesn’t fit if you want to reuse an old canvas, and gives you a fresh ground.
- How to go about it: Apply Chalk Paint White undiluted with a wide brush in one direction, let it dry, then apply a second coat crosswise.
- For transparent paints: A white ground makes the transparent shades of Aquarylic Color appear lighter. Allow for that when mixing.
3 Painting furniture without necessarily priming
Chalk Paint adheres to wood without a primer being strictly necessary. This applies to untreated, sanded and already painted wood. Here, too, the high chalk content is the reason.
That opens up the world of furniture: chests of drawers, chairs, picture frames, boxes. The matte, velvety surface suits styles such as vintage, shabby chic and country house. The finish is what matters. Furniture gets used, touched and wiped. That is why you seal it after painting, for example with wax or lacquer.
- Before you start: Make the wood free of dust and grease.
- Choosing colors: Shades such as Champagne, Jade or Terracotta give you a first direction. You’ll find all shades in the Chalk Paint collection.
- Finally: only seal once the paint has dried completely.
4 Powdery gradients with the 1 : 4 pouring technique
Heavily diluted, Chalk Paint behaves differently from Acrylic Paint. Thanks to its high pigmentation, Acrylic Paint can be diluted heavily and stays colorful. Chalk Paint turns powdery and cloudy when diluted. The pouring technique uses exactly this effect.
The recipe from our knowledge article: 1 part Chalk Paint White to 4 parts water. Pour this mix over a dark, dried ground of Acrylic Paint, for example Acrylic Paint Gray Blue Dark. The white settles on the dark ground like mist. The contrast makes the gradients visible. So here Acrylic Paint is not the competitor but the partner.
- Mixing: Stir paint and water well in the cup before you pour.
- Guiding: Tilt the canvas slightly to steer the direction of the streaks.
- Drying: Let the surface dry lying flat so that nothing runs off.
5 Encaustic and cold wax
Chalk Paint is one of the few paint media suitable for encaustic and cold wax. That does not apply to Acrylic Paint; it is not suitable for encaustic. The same goes for Aquarylic Color. Wax itself is also on the list of grounds for Chalk Paint.
For you, that means: if you work with wax, you don’t need an additional special medium for the paint. You combine the colors of Chalk Paint directly with the wax and can set matte chalk shades next to the glossy wax surface.
- Test first: Try shade and wax on a small scrap piece before you work on the actual painting.
- More on this: You’ll find answers about encaustic and cold wax in our Questions and Answers.
6 Your own texture paste: Chalk Paint plus Gray Stone Powder
Chalk Paint White and Gray Stone Powder together make your own modeling paste. Gray Stone Powder is finely ground natural limestone from Vorarlberg. It always needs a binder. Here, Chalk Paint takes on that role.
The mixing ratio determines the result. Two recipes from our Gray Stone Powder article:
- Chalk Paint White : Gray Stone Powder 1 : 2 — cracking and matte. Good for a rock or concrete look.
- (Chalk Paint + water 1 : 1) : Gray Stone Powder 1 : 2 — flows and forms puddles.
If you want the paste smoother and less prone to cracking, use Acrylic Adhesive instead of Chalk Paint in a 1 : 3 ratio. So the chalk version is the choice when you want cracks and a matte surface.
- Without stirring: Sprinkle Gray Stone Powder loosely onto the still wet Chalk Paint. Once dry, tap off the excess and reuse it.
Good to know: All 37 shades of Chalk Paint carry the highest lightfastness rating, “excellent”. The rating is on the back of the bottle and on every product page. Store the paint between 8 and 25 °C and close the container tightly after painting.
The starting point for almost everything on this list
Chalk paint - white
Reviews come from customers after a confirmed purchase (Loox) or are verified by Trusted Shops.- Opaque and matte: creamy to thick, dries waterproof
- Primer: for canvases, instead of gesso
- Texture: with Gray Stone Powder for your own modeling paste
- Pouring technique: 1 part paint to 4 parts water
Water-based, solvent-free and vegan. Developed out of practice. Made in Bludenz.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Chalk Paint waterproof once dry?
Yes. Chalk Paint is water-based and solvent-free and dries waterproof. That’s why you clean brushes with water right after painting. You still seal furniture, because it gets touched and wiped in everyday use.
Can I combine Chalk Paint with Acrylic Paint?
Yes. Chalk Paint can be combined with watercolor, gouache and acrylic paint. One example is the pouring technique: Chalk Paint White, diluted 1 : 4 with water, over a dark ground of Acrylic Paint. Matte chalk next to glossy Aquarylic Color is also a lovely combination.
How lightfast is Chalk Paint?
All 37 shades reach the “excellent lightfastness” rating. That is equivalent to Blue Wool Scale 8. You’ll find the rating on the back of the bottle, on the product page and in the color charts under Downloads.