Order Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

I got a call a few days ago from Lucketts  It’s a great call, but an “oh crap” kind of call, too.  Both of my large furniture pieces had sold, so I needed to get some furniture into my space ASAP.  I decided to sell a little wash stand I’ve had for a few years and I finally started working on the empire dresser I had in my basement for a while.  Here’s how it turned out…

 Here’s the before…

 

The wood on the front was really beautiful, but the sides had been painted, so I didn’t feel a lot of remorse about painting this piece.  (Do I ever?)  I layered French Enamel over Flow Blue and used a bit of trickery between to get some clear definition between the coats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you tell I’m a little in love with the finish?  Yeah, I am.  I’ll share more about the technique in a few days.

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the tutorial on the technique I used for this dresser.  You can also find detailed “recipes” for other layered looks HERE.

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

you may also like

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

next art sale

August 13th, 2026 at 1pm EST

NEW ONLINE ART COURSE

Paint a Pet Portrait You’ll Love

Learn to paint pet portraits in oils with confidence, even if you’re a beginner. In this new course, Marian will guide you step by step through creating expressive animal portraits filled with color, personality, and your own artistic touch. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when the course opens.

Now Available

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Fall Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories

Looking for more encouragement?

Newburgh Vintage Emporium Warehouse

On the way home from the Country Living Fair, my mom and I thought we would stop by a few antique stores.  We planned on shopping our way up to Rhinebeck, but the GPS routed us on toll roads, so we didn’t see anywhere to stop.  I should’ve planned out

Read More

how I use AI as an artist

A couple of years ago, I signed up for a trial to use an AI photo generator.  I was curious to see what kind of reference photos I could create with it.  I thought it might be a good tool for generating reference photos of subjects I don’t regularly have

Read More
error: Content is protected.