EBONY FRAME

Tools & Materials Needed:

Plywood sheets to cut for 4 sides of the frame (our vertical sides are 70” x 18”, horizontal sides 34” x 18”)

Right-angle ruler

Pencil

Jigsaw

Wood primer

Roller and paint tray

Yellow/beige, red/brown, chocolate brown and black latex paint, satin

Fine sandpaper

Two 3” course-bristle paintbrushes

1/8” low-tack painter’s tape

Acrylic varnish, satin

Varnish brush or sponge roller

Instructions

Step 1. Measure and cut the 4 sides of the frame from the plywood. You will need two 70” x 18” strips and two 34” x 18” strips to make the square. (Since the horizontal pieces fit in between the long verticals, subtract twice the width of the board to get their lengths: 70” – 36” = 34”.)

Step 2. Prime the plywood and apply two coats of yellow/beige paint, letting each coat dry and sanding lightly between coats. Let dry for 4 hours.

Step 3. (Shot 1) Dip a paintbrush about 1” into the red/brown and then the chocolate brown paint. Apply the paint in straight strokes running in the direction of the grain. Don’t blend the two colors completely, and let some of the base coat peek through. Let dry for 4 hours.

Step 4. (Shot 2) In the center of the two vertical sides of the frame, apply ten 1/8” bands of tape 1 ½” apart. Press down firmly. Dip the other paintbrush into the chocolate brown and then very lightly into the black and apply as in step 3. Go right over the 1/8” tape.

Step 5. (Shot 3) Let dry overnight, then carefully remove the tape.

Step 6. Apply two coats of varnish and let dry.