This stunning leather-look chair actually started life with dated red fabric, which Jonathon Marc Mendes painted over using Chalk Paint® paint and waxes to create a realistic, timeless finish.

Painter in Residence Jonathon Marc Mendes created a realistic, leather look on this red fabric chair simply by using Chalk Paint® and Waxes. He started with a coat of Arles, which he diluted with water until he attained a consistency like thin milk (this is a must when painting directly on to fabric – the paint needs to absorb in to the fibres).

Once the first coat was dry, Jonathon added a touch of Primer Red to the watered down Arles mix, gradually adding it to the chair in multiple layers. To create an authentic leather look, the last coat of paint was applied fairly thickly so that the seat pad would crack, just like aged leather.

Next he painted on the lettering and numbers using Graphite, inspired by typography seen on old clock faces and coffee sacks. Finally, he applied a coat of Clear and then Dark Chalk Paint® Wax, concentrating the dark wax around the edges to create an authentic, worn-leather effect.

Want to try this at home? Get started by watching Annie’s tutorial on painting fabric with Chalk Paint® here.