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How to Paint an Octopus Dresser

For the ocean lover, today’s post is all about How to Paint an Octopus Dresser.

How to Paint an Octopus Dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

I’m a lover of the sea, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to paint a giant kraken or an octopus on a dresser. I was hoping to use a drawing by my son, but he’s been very busy with school, the musical, and band.

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This is in our guest room / my office and I’ve started making over this space. Right before the holidays we had a wall in this room wallpapered with this paper. Isn’t it pretty?

I actually was a bit scared to undertake this project, so dragged my feet for a little bit, but it was actually soooooo much fun to work on.

I get my chalk paint from my friend Nancy down at the Sea Rose Cottage in Bristol, RI. She ships it to me here in Sciutate.

How to Paint an Octopus Dresser

50 / 50 Napoleonic Blue and Oxford Navy - Learn How to Paint an Octopus Dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

Materials

  • Annie Sloan’s decorative Chalk Paint® in Oxford Navy, Napoleonic Blue, and Old White
  • Clear Wax
  • Paint Brushes, decorative paint brushes and a wax brush
  • A computer, vintage image, projector
  • A white chalk pencil
  • Cheese cloth
  • A clean old white tee-shirt

Method

Step 1 – Prep your furniture. For this specific piece, I had to sand and scrape the old paint off as it was chipping. You usually don’t have to do this with Chalk Paint. I usually just scuff sand and wash pieces down.

Step 2 – I created a custom color using Oxford Navy and Napoleonic Blue – 50 / 50 mix. It is a beautiful blue, deep and dark, like the sea! Paint entire dresser in this mix until fully covered.

Step 3 – Using your computer attached to a projector, project image onto your dresser. I used this Octopus from the Graphics Fairy.

Learn to transfer this vintage octopus onto a piece of furniture | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Use a projector to paint images onto furniture | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

Step 4 – You can play with the size and positioning of the image with your projector. Once you have it lined up go over the image with a chalk pencil.

Materials needed to create an mural on a dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Easy to step by step tutorial for transferring an image onto furniture | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Trace the octopus onto the dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

Step 5 – Paint in Old White Chalk Paint over the outline of the octopus.

Tips for painting an octopus dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

I used a smaller detail brush for the dots on the head.

Pretty coastal dresser tutorial | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

I’m a visual learner and think you guys are, as well. I made a video which shows step by step how I transfer and paint the image:

Step 6 – (this one is optional) Paint any interiors in Old White. There’s a little recess at the top of this dresser and I painted the inside as a little surprise.

Step 7 – Once everything is dry, seal entire piece with Annie Sloan’s soft wax in clear. I applied two coats and waited a day to apply the second coat. I love using a waxing brush to apply the wax and wipe away the excess with cheesecloth.

Using Annie Sloan's Soft Wax | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

Step 8 – Lightly buff dresser with a clean white teeshirt or buffing brush.

That’s it! Time to enjoy your Octopus Dresser!

Of course, I had just as much fun taking photos and styling this dresser as I did painting it so here you can see the details.

Pretty Octopus Dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Painted octopus detail | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Painting an octopus on a vintage dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

The hardware is original except for the top drawer.

Pretty blue dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Details of a dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Old White inside a compartment of a dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
My Coastal Style - an old piece gets a sea creature makeover | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Blue and White decor in a coastal home | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

Would love to see your projects if you decide to use this transfer technique or create an octopus dresser of your own. I know many of us our housebound with the current situation and it might be a good time to try your hand at painting furniture.

A glimpse at my office and an Octopus Dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
Learn to paint this octopus dresser | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration

Finally, if you enjoyed this post you may want to pick up a copy of my eBook, 150 pages of tutorials and tips!

On the Tip of My Paint Brush - Painted Furniture Techniques by Danielle Driscoll | Finding Silver Pennies #paintedfurnitureinspiration #paintingtutorial #coastalstyel #chalkpaint #chalkpaintinspiration
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Elaine
Elaine
4 years ago

Wonderful work Danielle.

Susan Barrett
Susan Barrett
4 years ago

What is the wallpaper pattern?

Susan Barrett
Susan Barrett
4 years ago

Thank-you!

Deb
Deb
4 years ago

The media has been flooded with painted furniture over the past few years but this octopus is truly one of my favorites. Several years ago I saw a very large painting of an octopus which I would have loved for my living room wall. However it cost as much as a very nice piece of furniture and I chose not to purchase it. Your piece would be the best of both worlds. Art and storage. As a lover of blue that combo of two of Annie’s blues is a gorgeous shade.
Thank you for sharing your talent.

Kimberly O'Donoghue
Kimberly O'Donoghue
4 years ago

Beautiful so whimsical! Such nice work I thought it was a transfer! Did you stencil your back wall or is that wallpaper?

Debbie
1 year ago

This piece is amazing! Thank you for the detailed instructions and ideas!!