Milk paint is a traditional paint made from casein (milk protein), lime and natural pigments. It gives a matt, velvety surface and is especially well suited to bare wood, for example country furniture and reproductions. The paint comes as a powder that you mix with water yourself.
Mixing and painting
Mix 1 part powder with 1 part water and stir until the paint is smooth. Apply two coats, letting the first dry for about 30 minutes. For a really smooth finish, sand lightly between coats.
If the paint foams when mixing, an anti-foaming agent helps. It also makes pigments that tend to float on the water easier to mix in.
Protect the surface
Milk paint is matt and can wear on surfaces that are used a lot. Finish with varnish, oil or wax depending on the look you want. Oil and wax deepen the colour slightly.
A tip for toys and furniture that get a lot of use is to paint with two colours. When the top colour wears through, the colour underneath shows, giving a lovely, naturally worn look.
Colours
The colours are named in English after the manufacturers' own names. Here are some from Sweet Pickings:
Barn Red
Pumpkin
Marigold Yellow
Tavern Green
Sea Green
Soldier Blue
Pack sizes
A pint bag covers about 3 m² and makes roughly 0.5 litres of paint. A quart makes twice as much, and a gallon makes about 3.8 litres. The sizes are American: 1 gallon = 4 quarts and 1 quart = 2 pints.
Two makers
Sweet Pickings (OFMP) is a traditional milk paint with a matt finish, made for country furniture and reproductions.
Real Milk Paint is made from natural materials and meets the requirements of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), so it can be used on things for the very youngest children.
History
Milk paint is a natural product without toxic additives and has been used for a very long time, with traces going back to ancient Egypt.
Does milk paint need a finish?
Can I paint toys with milk paint?
How much paint do I need?
See the full range: Milk Paint
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