Decorative Fence Boards

• 1). Seal the boards with a water-repellent base coat. This will keep the wood from deteriorating from exposure to the elements. Allow the sealant to dry for several days before applying the primer.
  
  
• 2). Use an oil-based primer before painting. Primer helps the top coat to adhere to the wood and will ensure a beautiful finish to an artistic creation. Apply two coats and allow the primer to dry thoroughly before painting the top coats.
  
  
• 3). Select an acrylic latex paint and paint the wood, using wide, even strokes. Apply two top coats. Choose colors that work well for any design. Blue, light blue, and white make excellent choices for base colors.
  
  
• 4). Choose an image for the wooden board. Primitive images like roosters, farmhouses, and flowers are suitable. For holiday-inspired creations, look at greeting cards for inspiration or follow traditional holiday themes.
  
  
• 5). Determine the image placement and sketch the image directly onto the board. Carbon paper may be used for transferring tricky or detailed images onto the wooden board. Carbon paper is particularly helpful for people who have less experience painting objects.
  
  
• 6). Paint the largest elements and any background portions of the image first. This will help to keep the finer details clean and more defined.
  
  
• 7). Paint the finer details after the larger images have dried. Select brushes with different tip sizes for the best results. Use a fine-tip brush for any minute details.
  
  
• 8). Personalize the board by adding words or fun phrases to the top of the board, if desired.