A Note about the Finicky Paint

When I showed you my recent turquoise chair makeover and makeunder, I mentioned I had splurged on a more expensive brand of spray paint (Liquitex Professional Spray Paint, in Viridian Hue Permanent 7) – the kind always behind lock and key at Michael’s.  Although I really liked it, it was a tad trickier to use than my usual hardware store brands.

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In case you’re going to take the plunge (about $10.00 per can, after a 40% off coupon) here are some tips.

1. Hold the can upright the entire time! 

I’m so used to newfangled spray cans that let me spray this way and that (sometimes accidentally toward my face, but that’s another story), that I sprayed this fancy stuff with wild abandon and it totally gummed up the nozzle.  It’s designed more for art applications (although it’s supposedly weather-proof and really durable), so keep the can upright at all times!  Flip the chair over to get the underside instead of crouching and awkwardly spraying up (c’mon, I’m not the only one, right?)

2. Be cool.

I was so freaking excited by the colour I chose (only the perfect shade of turquoise) that I sprayed and sprayed and sprayed and sprayed.  I was totally crazy-eyed and guess what happened?  Drips.  Big drips.  Worse that any drip I’ve dripped before (see below).  So, be cool.  Ambivalent, really.  Apply thin, thin coats – thinner even than with other brands – like you’re not madly in love with the colour.

3. If you’re not cool, it’s cool.

This creamy gorgeous paint must know you’ll go crazy for it because drips were fixed super easily.  A light sand removed them (like the big one pictured above) another (thin!!) coat covered them perfectly (see below). 

4. Prime first!!

I am lazy and don’t always prime.  But to get the promised intensity and richness of colour (it has artist’s grade pigments), a white base is a must.  So use a white primer, let is cure completely, then apply this paint.  (I used Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch primer in white). 

5.  Clean the nozzle.

This nozzle is finicky.  There are few instructions on the can, but the main one is to hold the can upside down and spray for a few seconds to clean the nozzle.  It’s the only time it will let you  up hold it upside down.  Do it.

Liquitex Professional Spray Paint Viridian Hue Permanent 7

As a bonus:

Although Hubby disagrees, I think it smells nice.  It also does not have the same risks of skin or eye irritation but still avoid getting this stuff on you.  

Other than these few things, the paint went on really nicely.  It has a great depth and richness that spray paint doesn’t always have.  A creaminess, if that makes any sense.  I would, with a coupon, buy this paint happily again.  I should mention, after this gushing, that this review is totally unsolicited and un-sponsored.  Although, if they tossed a few cans my way, I wouldn’t say no . . . .

Speaking of paint, Buzz Feed featured my DIY black & white abstract in a round-up of 39 fun DIY art ideas!