Pastels are really the way to go if you are weathering wood.Because of the rough surface there is no danger of them rubbing off.Acrylics work fine but it takes 10 times as long to achieve the same result.The secret is to be subtle in your application.They are also very forgiveable in that if you make a mistake and overdo it, you can blend in other colors easily.Begin by using a small soft brush and just dunk the tip in the pastel color and scrub the surface you are working on.The key is to take your time and be sure to blend in the pastels for a nice subtle,smooth transition of color.You can very easily create some great effects by shading between the boards,in corners where dust and crud would gather or at the sawed off ends where discoloration would take place.Take a look at real weathered wood for ideas and have fun. Cheers! John.
