I first gave the desk a quick sanding. I typically do this to add some grit to my painting surfaces. It also helps to remove scuffs, welts and any gunk. The top of the desk had veneer with chipped edges. Rather than taking the whole layer off, I used my putty knife, gently tapping it under the veneer with a hammer and went all around the perimeter chipping off the edge—creating a carved look. Next I applied two rough coats of Museum (brown) paint. After it dried, I randomly slopped on the Cherry Cola paint. Don’t worry about even coverage at this point. These are just the underlying colors.