Buttermilk Paint clearly demonstrates the ingenuity of Early American painters and stainer. It is well documented that buttermilk and other milk products were used for the decoration of furniture and housing. When the traveling painter was away from population centers drying oils, pigments and varnishes were scarce and very expensive. They turned to an old country custom of using farm products, earth colors and brick dust to make their paint colours.

OLD VILLAGE has reproduced these products, but in the interest of health, concessions have been made to use safe modern raw materials. We have kept the spirit of the Colonial American Craftsman in producing these materials with which to achieve the lovely effects so much a part of their legacy.

View Buttermilk Colour Samples

Where To Use Buttermilk Paints

Like all Buttermilk Paints of Colonial America, OLD VILLAGE Buttermilk Paint Colours may be used on interiors of barns, buildings, walls and trim, and on furniture and artifacts. These colours dry to a beautiful matte finish that does not destroy the texture of the wood. Multiple coats will build a longer lasting and more opaque film By adding water, a transparent stain effect can be attained.

How To Use

Sound painting practices apply to Buttermilk Paint Colours just as they do to other paints.

1. The surface to be painted must be clean. All dirt, grease, wax, oil, furniture polish, loose paint, and other foreign material must be removed.
2. The surface to be painted must be sound. Repair before you paint Rotten wood, corroded metal, splits, cracks, holes, and other defects must be repaired, replaced, or removed.
3. Slick glossy surfaces must be well sanded to insure proper adhesion.

4. Metal surfaces must be primed with Old Village Oil Metal Primer.
5. Dry wall construction, new plaster and spackled areas should be coated with Old Village Primer and allowed to thoroughly dry before using Buttermilk Paint.
6. Buttermilk Paint Colours contain water and should not be used at temperatures below 50S- This temperature must be maintained through the whole drying period.
7. Thin and clean up with water.
8. These paints are best applied with a good nylon brush. They may also be applied by roller, spray, or foam type applicator.

Spatter Finish

1. Apply one coat of the background colour of your choice and allow it to dry thoroughly.
2. Spatter over the ground colour with one or more other colours by dipping the tip of a toothbrush or other stiff brush lightly in paint. Wipe almost dry on paper. Make small dots of paint on ground colour by running a finger over the bristles. Thin paint slightly for larger spatters. Try it first on a piece of paper

Sand-Off Antiquing

1. Apply two coats of Buttermilk Paint of different colours (ie. 1st coat – red, 2nd coat – blue) Allow each coat to dry thoroughly. Sand with very fine sandpaper (320 wet or dry) until base colour shows through finish in some areas. Edges and high spots should show through more than other places. Clean with tac cloth and glaze if desired. Stenciling, striping, and hand decorating may be applied before the sanding operation.

Graffito Or Scribing

1. Apply one coat of background colour of your choice and allow to dry thoroughly.
2. Apply coat of contrasting colour.
3. While top coat is still wet, scribe a design in the paint so that base colour shows through scribe marks. Use scribing tool, pointed stick, or almost any pointed object Unscribed areas may be rewet by the application of more paint. Mistakes may be painted out and rescribed.
4. Work as quickly and carefully as possible.
5. Try it first on a scrap of wood or paper.

Stipple Finish

1. Apply one coat of background colour and allow it to dry thoroughly.
2. Stipple over ground colour by dipping rolled up cloth, sponge, or stippling brush lightly in contrasting colour, pat it almost dry on paper. Pat on background colour.
3. Use as many colours as you want. use a light touch. Try it first on a piece of paper.

Dry Brush Graining

1. Apply one coat of background colour and allow it to dry thoroughly.
2. Dip stiff bristly brush in contrasting colour thinned with a little water. Wipe almost dry on paper. Brush streaks of one or more colours over ground colour. Try it first on a piece of paper.

· Heide Drewes demonstrates
the “Finger Technique” with Old Village Buttermilk and Graining Liquid

Suggestions

Many other unique decorating effects are possible with these Buttermilk Colours. Use your imagination to imitate wood, stone, distressing, leaves, tile flower petals, etc.

The various effects enumerated here may also be used in combination – antiquing and spatter, graffito and antiquing, stipple and spatter, dry brush graining and sand-off antiquing, etc.

Glazing

Buttermilk finished may be glazed to enhance the colours and add durability, abrasion resistance, build, etc. We recommend Old Village Transparent Satin for ultimate hardness and mar resistance.

Buttermilk Paint Reproduction Colors may be used on unpainted or painted walls and ceiling surfaces. They are also highly desirable as a color coat on woodwork, furniture and smaller objects requiring a paint finish.

Stir well from the bottom up. This product may be thinned with water. DO NOT USE SOLVENT. Buttermilk Paint Reproduction Colors may be tinted with universal colors, intermixed, or lightened with Buttermilk Shading White. Do not mix with other paints. When more than one container of the same color is to be used, mix them together before starting. Do not apply when temperature is below 50F. Buttermilk Paint Reproduction Colors may be applied by brush, roller, or spray. Apply at a spreading rate of 400 sq. ft. per gallon.

Clean up and thin, if necessary, with water. Clean rollers, brushes, and other equipment with soapy water and rinse well.

Wood Finishing And Decorating

1. Remove dirt, wax, and any other foreign material with mineral spirits.
2. Sand smooth.
3. Dust and clean surface with tac cloth.
4. Apply a full even coat of Buttermilk Paint.
5. For matte finish apply second coat of Buttermilk Paint.
6. For satin finish apply Old Village Transparent Satin.
7. For antique, worn appearance apply two coats of Buttermilk Paint of different colors (ie. 1st coat red, 2nd coat blue). Allow each coat to dry thoroughly. Sand with very fine sandpaper (320 wet or dry) until base colour shows through finish color in some areas. Edges and high spots should show through more than other places. Clean with tac cloth and finish with one or two coats of Old Village Satin Finish. Stenciling, striping, and hand decorating may be applied before the sanding operation.