cottage cheese paint

This is a variation of the milk paint recipe. The cottage cheese keeps the milk from curdling. This paint has the velvety, "deep" look of old-style paints. It is perfect for restoring woodwork or small pieces of wooden furniture. Make sure your wood is clean, sanded and dry before painting.

cheese paint detail

Dilute a pinch of borax* (3 g) in one tablespoon of water. Add about 3 oz. (100 g) of low-fat cottage cheese and mix well. Set aside for one hour.

In a separate bowl, mix 3 oz. (100 g) chalk powder** with ½ to 1 cup of water. The resulting texture should be similar to thick porridge. Add ½ to 1 oz. (15 to 30 g) of pigment or a few drops of universal coloring agent. Adjust amounts to obtain the desired color. Mix well, and set aside for one hour.

cheese paint pot

Blend the two mixtures in a glass jar. Your paint is ready to use. It should have a creamy texture and homogenous color. If you need to adjust the color, it is not too late to add some gouache or any other pigment. Blend carefully.

Cottage cheese paint should be applied in two or three coats. Each coat takes 8 to 12 hours to dry. The paint will appear slightly transparent when applied but will darken as it dries.

matt cottage cheese paint

For the finish, apply one or two coats of environmentally friendly furniture wax or varnish.

* Borax, also called sodium borate, is a natural antibacterial and can be found in the cleaning aisle of your grocery store next to the laundry soaps. Also available in some drug stores and janitorial supply stores. Price: approx. $5/lb. (500 g).

** Chalk Powder: Finely ground natural chalk. It can be found in the cement section of home improvement or pool supply retailers in 3 or 10 lb packages. Also used to clean marble or silver. Price: approx. $1/lb.

March 2007 [paint recipes]
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