A Critical View

Those that know me understand why I have a very critical view of the crafting world. I can become a bit of a flamethrower when they attempt to pose it as art. Yet this is how many who are artists become in that regard.

The one thing about Chalk Couture I noticed up front is that they at least do not market as some kind of art. They do state that it is for “design” but … okay designs on crafts.

How did I come to know about this tool?

My Introduction To Chalk Couture

A friend began using some of the products on wood surfaces with the creations that were being made. It was suggested that I give it a try.

Just as an fyi I really hate fads in general, but at least I could see the product in person at my friends shop. They were shocked I had not yet heard of this stuff.

In my mind I told myself, “Yeah I usually stay away from gimmicks”. In the end though overall I was pleasantly surprised albeit with a few issues. I also do not see the product itself as a gimmick any longer.

I debated on writing a review on Chalk Couture for many reasons. First I am brutally honest and at times to a fault. I hate bashing anything and would rather promote the best of what I find.

The product falls into a really interesting gap which normally doesn’t happen. Seriously it all depends on how you plan to use it and how you see the application.

I decided to go ahead with writing this review due to my friend and seeing how people are beginning to apply it to wood.

Stay with me for tips that will come which are far better than the wax method they promote.

So here is the good, the bad, and the ugly about Chalk Couture. This is merely my take away as a wood artist. If you love the stuff then by all means keep chalking I mean no offense.

The Good About Chalk Couture

It works. Let me break that down a bit more. It really works. This is actually nice because there is so much garbage out there these days. This is why I am so hesitant to look at new things.

I will tell you this now… FOLLOW instructions. Men are bad about this by our design so all caps are needed for us. There are issues you will run into which will ruin your project if you do not FOLLOW instructions.

It can be applied to virtually any surface. Those that it does not like can be coaxed into accepting it with a bit of knowledge and persuasion. If it will stick to glass, it can stick to almost anything.

Of the greatest benefits is the color pallet which you have access to. They have done a great job with the design of the product and its methods of application. Hats off to them there I was impressed.

The Bad About Chalk Couture

Not all surfaces are equal. My friend who was trying to convince me to use this product on wood detailed the process. One of the necessities in making this work was waxing the wood.

The moment I saw this I knew that the process was meant to be semi permanent. Wax is a great way to waterproof wood yet the surface it leaves is not one that should be painted, stained, or otherwise sealed over.

While they suggest one can use a sealer over the chalk there are problems. Sealers are meant to penetrate the wood grain not merely dry on the surface. It is only as solid as what is beneath the sealer.

The idea behind Chalk Couture is that it is designed to be semi permanent with the paste. This for me made it a no go. I work with wood carving so pretty much everything I do is rather permanent. Cool idea though.

Their ink is designed to be more permanent. Yet I take issue with their process. Wood, wax, ink, and a top coat of poly. There is a lot going on there above the wax with little real bonding. I will go more into this later.

If you are wanting to make some artsy signs to hang in your home or shop, go for it. This part of the crafting product just did not impress me that much.

Before I get to the ugly of Chalk Couture I will go into one really cool aspect of the idea. This is something novice wood artists can hijack and use for our purposes.

Reinventing The Design For Wood Use

When a wood artist begins learning often it is on something like a dremel with very basic and rough grind cutting. Chisels can be used by some if they have already fallen in love with wood carving.

Of the many complicated issues beginners have is transferring a design to the wood. You figure out how to do this over time and everyone has a slightly different way of going about this.

The Chalk Couture designs though can be used as a stencil implement for this learning process. I will say that it definitely beats hand tracing many elements.

Obviously this will not work for those who are more advanced. For the wood artists who have a cnc, lettering is just too easy to have the mill run out for us. Fine letters for us are nothing to worry about in any shape or size.

Yet for children the chalk path is not a bad idea. It is a great way for them to learn how to be creative. I definitely see it as a great school project.

The Ugly Of Chalk Couture

Understand that what I say here has nothing to do with the product itself. For what the product is designed to do, it is great. At the price point I would even say that it is probably worth more than what they ask.

So what is ugly about the idea? I personally dislike the “be a designer and have your own business” aspect. It just comes off like a multi level game to get others to push a product. It is a perfect picture in the decline of interior design.

What I really dislike about the idea is that it aids in perpetuating the craft vs art issue which many artists find themselves in battle against. This issue is why many artists abandoned places like Amazon and Etsy.

Thus my issue with the concept exists solely around that business aspect of it. This kind of thing is strictly a craft, not art. Thus why I gave props to Chalk Couture at the onset in their marketing it as a tool for craft use… okay design.

If you are thinking about this from a business perspective I wish to provide a quote from the Sadies Mom blog where an interesting statement is made

Chalk Couture is not well suited to someone who would rather purchase high end décor items than create them herself (or himself).

Chalk Couture is not well suited to someone who would rather purchase bargains at Walmart or Family Dollar than create upscale DIY décor pieces.

Chalk Couture is probably not well suited to someone trained in the fine arts… although they might enjoy it and would likely create masterpieces!

Quote from sadiesmom

If it is not suited for those who purchase high end items, nor those who purchase bargain bin stuff, nor someone in the arts….. then who is it good for? It really should fit into one of those two markets.

That is a problem in of itself.

Should This Product Be Used On Wood?

If you are looking for a semi permanent solution which allows you to change the design on the wood then there is no better product. You will be happy with the outcome once you figure out the process.

If you are looking for a permanent solution, as I most often use, then no. It cannot fit this role as it was not designed for it unless other implementation is used.

They claim that to make this permanent on wood you can simply use a clear coat on top to seal it to the surface. Doing this on top of wax is not the greatest idea. Keep reading to help you figure out a better solution.

Alternatives To Waxing Wood For The Chalk

Mixing Chalk Couture and waxing wood is not an issue by itself, but rather it is what exists above that layer. The purpose of using wax on wood is to seal the porous surface. This is traditionally a method to prevent moisture from getting to the fibers.

Wood oils is another popular solution to preventing moisture yet this would not mix well with the Chalk idea. If you decide to try and make this design permanent there may be a better way.

You first need something that will bond with the wood fibers in a more permanent way. Stain and seal the wood with some kind of polyurethane. When dry the surface will be slick, but not as slick as glass.

When you see how people use this Chalk Couture on glass, its use on a surface like polyurethane is not the real issue. The problem you will have comes to bleeding through the fibers of the wood grain.

You may need to experiment with what polyurethane will work best. There are acrylics and oils as well as hybrids and urethanes. I have not personally sought out which is best when combined with either the paste or ink although I could do this in the future.

There is a secret to pulling this off. It is actually a trade secret I never have parted with which impacts my work. Yet inks and stains can be used on top of a poly surface without it penetrating wood fibers making a dirty mess, yet this for now remains my secret.

If you are feeling strong about trying their ink as it is more permanent then go for it. In most cases there should be minimal bleed unless using a species like cedar. Wood species plus process matters.

If you use their paste, it is the safest way to get the design nailed just like you want it to appear. Once you have this completed then the rest is simple.

Top coat with your choice of poly and you have a more permanent fixture. If you really are set on making Chalk Couture permanent on wood there is one other alternative.

Mixed Media With Chalk Couture

Epoxy resin is your best friend for all things permanent. The process in how to use epoxy resin will be dictated by the brand of choice and their formulation. Yet all remain fairly similar by design with minor differences.

You could do this a couple different ways. Epoxy could be used to encase the wood before Chalk Couture is ever added to the project.

If you select this route, treat the surface just like you would glass minus the heating within an oven when adding the Chalk Couture. Once completed then encase this with another coat of epoxy resin. Once hardened it will forever be there.

Alternatively you could simply use the epoxy resin as a top coat after using the chalk design on the wood. I would strongly advise to coat the entire piece of wood with the same epoxy.

As for the mixed media aspect. Further colors, designs, and art can be added to the wood with the use of this resin.

This can take whatever project you have in mind to the next level. Here is where your work will be unique instead of looking exactly like the thousands of others buying into this.

Would I Personally Use Chalk Couture?

Personally I would not use it unless it was requested. Why? I have many thousands of dollars in equipment and many years of skill behind me in making wood art. I do not need the product.

If I wanted to cheat by not hand carving, and race someone with Chalk Couture, I could use my cnc mill to carve the same letters into wood within minutes. It merely is a product that has little application for what I personally do.

My choice in not using it has nothing to do with the product itself. It is a great product that has its uses within the crafting community. It has limited use within the art community.

Main Focus Of Chalk Couture

I see the main focus of this product as being geared towards diy projects, crafts, and it is great for kids. It has its uses in some commercial application for store front windows, glass doors, and indoor store signs.

Personally I do not see it as a viable home based business. I do see it as a viable tool to be used for someone who has a home based business. Thus I would treat it as another tool in our toolbox rather than a front line product.

I am impressed with what it can do on many surfaces such as glass. That is not an easy feat to pull off in the way that they do it.

Hopefully I have not offended many with what I have reviewed as it was not intended that way. Yet what I have offered is as usual a hard look at a product for wood without all the marketing tapestries.