Oil Rouging

This oil rouging was painted on a paper mache box.  This is not so common for oil rouging however if you

  1).  Dampen a brush and blot well to remove excess water.  Use gesso and apply a thin slip slap motion on the box. 

  2.)  It's better to have 2 thin layers rather than a thick single layer.  Allow to dry very well.

  3.)  Cut a paper bag (a thin one) to cover the opening of the box bottom so that when the lid goes on the edges will be under the lid and hold the box to size instead of it shrinking.  The lid might be too tight otherwise.

  4.)  Place the gessoed box in a cold oven.  Then set the temperature 200 to 250 degrees F and turn oven on.  When oven reaches the temperature set turn the oven off and leave the box in the oven and the door closed.

  5).  When all is cooled to room temperture your box is strong, smooth and ready to paint as usual.

   
The information above is not mine but it was provided by another artist on an email group and if I know decorative painters I'm sure she would have given it to you directly.