A question I get asked often is can you paint directly onto wood slices? Or do you need to prepare them first?
I call them wood slices. But you might call them tree slices, log slices, wood rounds, or wood cookies.
If you cut a log or branch as you would slice a loaf of bread, with the bark all around the outside (the crust in the bread analogy), then we are talking about the same thing!
Firstly, only use fully dry wood slices.
Be patient, as any moisture in the wood slice runs the risk of;
Better to wait a little bit longer for the wood to dry fully than risk ruining your hard work!
(I'll write a blog post on drying wood slices shortly with some cheats for finishing off 'nearly dry' wood slices).
Preparing your wood slices.
Before writing this blog, I spoke to several of my customers to get their advice, and the general consensus was;
Wood is porous.
All wood is porous but end-grain wood, like wood slices, is exceptionally absorbent. (I'll go into 'why' in a future blog about drying wood slices). If you don't use a primer before painting, consider a base coat or an extra layer of paint.
To prime or not to prime?
Priming for my customers is down to personal preference.
Most like See Queen Stones and Jac's Little Welsh Studio like to draw and paint straight onto the wood, while Painted by SLM likes to prime first with Mod Podge.
The Crafty Capricorn used to seal theirs with a deco art multi-purpose sealer but now actually loves the effect of painting straight onto the wood.
The colour of the wood can also be a factor in whether to prime or not.
Painting with Poppy says, "if the wood is light in colour, I simply paint using acrylic paints... If the wood has colour to it, I prime it as the colour will affect the paint over time."
Allow time to dry.
Whether you prime or not, it is essential to let each layer of primer or paint dry thoroughly before adding the next.
Otherwise, you risk picking up the previous layer whilst trying to lay down the next, leaving an uneven surface.
To seal or not to seal?
Once finished, mostly everyone I spoke to uses a sealant on their work.
There is a variety to choose from, both matte and gloss depending on how you want your finish.
Mod Podge, both a primer and sealer, is preferred again, as was a matt spray varnish by Winsor & Newton.
Protecting your wood slices.
As always with wood slices, before or after you have painted them, to avoid them warping or cracking, never place them near heat, in damp spots, or in areas where the temperature varies from extreme heat to cold.
Where to buy your wood slices?
You can't beat Hobby Craft or Amazon for cheap wood slices.
However, if you are looking for more variety in both size and wood, or are searching for a more sustainable option, then I sell a range of wood slices for crafts in a variety of sizes from 3cm - 20cm.
I use British hardwoods from sustainable sources; the hazel, I coppice myself in the woodland I manage.
All my wood slices are fully dry and sanded, ready for use.
If you can't see what you need, do ask, as I have a constant rotating stock of drying logs and can slice to order.
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