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Do you love folk art and are itching to try your hand at decorating or painting a piece of wood or furniture to make a folksy piece? The best advice I can give you is to make sure you have a nice piece of wood free from knots and defects. A nice clear piece of wood is the best medium to paint on. The flaws in the wood will not be covered up by painting unless the flaws fit in with the desired effect of the art.

Whether you are painting a birdhouse or a rocking chair or box, you will need to prepare each piece in the same fashion. If the wood is not prepared properly, you will have a rustic look instead of a fine folk art look. If your furniture needs to be stripped, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions and make sure the wood is clean. It is desirable to be totally prepared and have the materials on hand especially when it comes to cleaning and sealing the wood. If you delay sealing after you clean the wood, it may absorb moisture from the air and warp or discolor.

TIPS ON PREPARING WOOD FOR FOLK ART PAINTING:

* Pick out your wood or piece of furniture that you want to paint

* Sand down the wood with a medium-fine grit sand paper with a 150-180 grit. Sand with the grain to avoid scratching the wood.

* Check for flaws

* Fill in all holes, scratches and gouges with wood filler and let it completely dry

* Sand lightly and refill with the wood filler if necessary

* Seal any knots and any areas that were filled with wood filler. Use a wood sealer

* Sand the wood with a finer 220 grit sand paper. Sand with the grain

* Sand the edges smooth while taking care that you don't accidentally go against the grain of the wood.

* Wipe with a soft clean rag

* Seal the wood on all surfaces with a water based sealer to prevent the grain of the wood from raising when painted.

* Make sure the sealer is completely dry before proceeding.

* Sand the wood once more with a fine 220-400 grit sand paper to make the surface nice and smooth

* Wipe the piece completely with a soft dry clean cloth.

* Visually check for raised grain on the wood. Repeat the last two steps if needed

Now is the time to prepare to paint. If you have sanded the wood properly and made the wood so smooth that a nylon will flow across it without snagging, you are ready to paint your project. Make sure you have all your painting materials and paints gathered, mark out your folk art design on the wood and start creating your work of art!

Learn more about this author, Annie M Manzi.
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