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Dragging on Wood

This technique, popularised in the 1930s by John Fowler, is often found in country-style interiors. A brush is dipped in a glaze coat and dragged over an existing non-porous base coat so that the latter shows through. Muted shades work best, creating a subtle, textured finish. If you intend applying the technique to a kitchen cabinet as per our example, remove the cupboard doors first, and lay them on trestles before painting. This not only makes it easier to achieve a uniform finish, but will also prevent you clogging up the door hinges with paint. Allow two days to paint the front of the cupboard doors, and one to paint the back.
Materials Plascon Velvaglo: Blu Spa (B5-B1-4); Dusky Mood (B5-C1-4) Plascon Oil Scumble Glaze (GSL1) Plascon Ultra Varnish Matt Mineral Turpentine A smooth mutton cloth 100mm bristle brush Sponge roller P120 sandpaper
Method
Step 1 Check the surface of the doors and repair any cracks with Plascon Polycell Woodfiller, sanding it to a smooth finish. Apply two coats of the lighter base colour using a sponge roller and paint brush, and allow each layer to dry for 24 hours. Sand the doors between coats using P120 sandpaper to remove any dust that might have collected on the surface.
Step 2 Mix a glaze consisting of one part turpentine, one part of your darker Velvaglo colour selection, and one part Scumble Glaze. Do one door at a time. Use the mixing brush to apply a thin film of coloured glaze over the base coat.
Step 3 While the glaze is still wet, gently pull a pad of mutton cloth across the surface from left to right - do not lift the cloth.
Step 4 Do the same with the paint brush, dragging it across the surface to create horizontal lines in the glaze. Work steadily as the glaze dries fairly quickly. Allow to dry for 24 hours, and repeat steps 2-4, but drag the brush upwards to create vertical lines this time.
Step 5 For a more rustic, aged look, pull P120 sandpaper in the direction of the brushstrokes once the glaze has dried. Dust the surface with mutton cloth, and varnish with Ultra Varnish Matt, allowing it to dry for 24 hours.