How to Paint the Alpha Omega Sign by GranArt

Suggestion: Read through the directions before starting project. The Alpha sign is painted on a 16” x 36” wood that I found pre-cut at our local lumber/hardware store. I used what I had available in paints which is craft enamel paint but you could easily do this sign in acrylics. Using a 2” brush I applied the bright red paint to all the surface and edges of the board.
Allow about 10 – 15 minutes drying time. Then I applied my 2nd coat of red all over accept for the middle of the board I brushed on orange paint while the red was still wet in that area to make it pop. Allow to dry about 15 –20 minutes. The black side of the board: I measured from the left side of the board about 5” from the edge (going toward the middle of the board) and made a mark several times down the board on the left side to be my guide where to tape off. Using 3/4 “scotch magic tape, I taped off to the right side of the marks. Then painted that left side in black paint, 2 coats and the edge. The Scripture: While it was all drying I used MS Publisher to print the scripture in different font styles and sizes. Then using trace paper, I traced each font on to the trace paper to make a pattern. I taped each sheet of trace paper together to create a long pattern. I positioned the font pattern on the board and taped it down at the very top of the board. Then using dark gray graphite paper I traced the letters on to the board. Using a 2” mid liner brush and white paint, I painted the letters with 2 coats. The Crosses: I made a cross pattern using the shape of my ruler as a guide. I created a pattern for the cross using trace paper then applied the cross on to the black painted side of the board using cream color graphite paper. Then I filled in the crosses with white paint, 2 coats using a #6 flat brush. If you want the crosses with perfectly straight lines tape them off with the magic tape then paint 2 coats. Don’t allow the tape to stay down too long (paint the surface, let dry 3-5 minutes, paint a 2nd coat and remove the tape while the 2nd coat is drying.) The next day take a fine grit sand paper and sand over the whole board lightly by hand, just to allow the crisp letters to dull down a bit and dust off. Glaze/Stain: Make a dark red glaze to stain the red part of the board only in a few places (not all over). I just stained the bottom right side of the red surface and a little at the top coming down. You can buy a small can of glaze at the hardware store to mix with your paint, my paint brand makes a glaze in small 2oz. bottles. When you make a stain/glaze you want to use equal parts of glaze + paint and enough water to make it like unset jello, stir well. You can brush the stain on and with a damp rag wipe off quickly to get the desired look or use a damp rag to apply it and a clean damp rag to remove some to get your desired effect. It is best to go at this a little at a time. Apply a little stain, wipe off and stand back and look at it. If it is not enough, apply a little more stain/glaze again and wipe off. Stain Color: The red paint + touch of brown + touch of black were the colors I used to create the dark red stain/glaze. Font Shadow Effects: Now darken that stain/glaze by adding a drop or two more of the black paint, stir well and now shadow the right side of each letter using a #2 mid liner brush. All you are doing at this point is brushing on a thin coat of the glaze to the right side only of the letters. After all dries well, you can lightly sand it again to give it an even more worn look. Paint the back side of the board in two coats of black then sign it. You can apply two picture hangers to the back or do like I do, using two screws and 18 gauge wire is my hanger in the back. Wha-la you’re done!