Primitive Technique

• The word "rustic" denotes a rough and rugged appearance. In art, a rustic style of painting is usually executed by someone without formal training or knowledge of art. Rustic paintings have a primitive quality, similar to art done by children. This form of art is usually as practical as it is decorative. Distortion of the subject, meaning that the subject is presented in a way that is not entirely accurate or realistic, may be intentional or non-intentional, but is present nonetheless because rustic art is by its nature primitive.
  
  

Found Object Paint Surfaces

• In addition to traditional canvas or paper, in a rustic style, found objects are often used as paint surfaces. Old signs, doors, shutters, boards, oars, pales, shovels and other found objects may all be used as painting surfaces, as long as they provide a wide-enough surface of unbroken area on which to paint. Before these objects are painted on, the surfaces are well cleaned.
  
  

Homemade Paint

• Rustic paintings are meant to be handmade, even down to the paint. Therefore, the colors are natural and earthy, as paints procured from plants and foods would be. Even if the paint is not homemade, only colors that are earth-based and natural are used. These colors include deep mauves, earthy greens, browns and grays.
  
  

Iconic Imagery

• Rustic paintings use iconic imagery to portray subjects so that the painting will be understandable to the widest range of possible viewers. An icon is a simple drawing that is meant to represent a specific subject and is widely recognized as representing that subject, even if the drawing really doesn't very closely represent that subject at all. A classic example of an icon is a happy face. Iconic imagery often gives rustic paintings a simple appeal that can reach a wide range of audiences. When painting a rustic painting, the subjects should be portrayed in ways that are simple, straightforward and easily understandable.
  
  

Making Something Rustic

• Sometimes, furniture is painted to have a "rustic" appearance. In order to achieve this effect, furniture may be painted with special paint that crackles when it dries, giving the piece an aged effect. In other cases, the furniture is painted and then sanded down once the paint dries in order to create a used or distressed appearance common to rustic furniture. Color washing is another effect sometimes used on rustic furniture. In color washing, multiple paint layers are painted on piece of furniture. The layers of paint are thin enough that under-layers show through. Similar colors are paired together in color washing in order to create a deep and lush overall color.