Decorative painting techniques

Decorative painting is a unique art form that requires unique skills and techniques not found in other disciplines. I have compiled my ten favorite tips into this list to help you bring out your creativity and find your inspiration.

1. A clean and organized painting space allows more time to be creative. Once an idea comes to mind you can run with it. Search out examples of items, vistas, etc. It takes time and patience to put together a cohesive vision. When the idea is drawn onto paper, tracing paper or the surface of choice you are now ready to go!!!!

2. In order to be ready to paint, brushes must be clean and in good condition. Keep the worn brushes for scruffy work. Keep the brushes clean by using a good brush cleaner for acrylic paint. Do not let the dirty brushes soak in the cleaning solution above the ferule (the metal part holding the brush hairs together) as the glue weakens the bristles.

3. It is easier to find the brush needed if the brushes are organized by size and type. Separate the brushes into containers based on good condition, well used and scruffy. Keep your brushes either by brand and size or by type of brush and size. Old, scruffy brushes should be kept as they often are needed to add texture to the surface area.

4. Organization is key to knowing where each supply is located. Palettes, rulers, palette knives, sponges and etc need to have a place where they can be retrieved easily. Mark the drawers or containers with the appropriate labels. Each drawer or container should have ample room to keep the supplies well organized. Always when using the last of a product keep a list of the product so you can replenish the item. Always return any of the supplies back to the drawer or container so the items can be easily located.

5. Organize your paints. Paint racks or drawers will keep the paint bottles or tubes organized by company and or color. When a paint tube or bottle is empty make a list by company and color. Keep the list in visual site on a clip board as this will make it easy to replenish the exact colors of paint needed.

6. When beginning a painting project first work out the project in your mind. List the order of the layers you will be doing. Start from the background forward, then the mid-ground and finally the foreground. It is important to paint all the furthest items and then work forward. Make a checklist of the furthest back elements, then the middle elements and finally the nearest elements.

7. Visit museums, aquariums and parks for inspiring new ideas. A simple walk will often times bring out new ideas and thoughts that have been buried away. Also it is a good idea to sit with a drawing pad and pencils and just go outside and begin to draw nature, people and buildings. This will often times bring on new ideas and visions.

8. Build a library of photographs. Take pictures of trees, clouds, buildings, mountains and much more. Your photographs are a great source for inspiration. Incorporate elements from your pictures and from books into your painting.

9. Look through magazines as they have wonderful ideas and picture’s of natures beauty. Build a reference library that can be referred to quickly. This reference library should be kept in an orderly manner. Each genre of pictures should be kept together. Any notebook will help in keeping the pictures orderly and in clear plastic sleeves.

10. Enjoy painting, enjoy the process… let the creative ideas blossoms. Look around for inspiration from the colors of the trees to the beauty of a child’s face to the simplest piece of fruit. Wherever you go there are new and wondrous ideas. Keep looking and keep being inspired by all the beauty that our world has to give us.

faux finish painting techniques

Faux leather is one of the most popular types of decorative finishes. While there are many different methods for creating faux leather finishes the information contained in this article will give you good consistent finishes for the do it yourselfer.

If adding some warmth and texture to a room or two is for you, than a faux-leather wall may be just the project. A great looking faux-leather paint job is easy to create with the right tools and a little direction. Even if your not a very good painter, it's easy to get a professional looking result with just a little effort.

The first thing to consider is what look you're going for. Is it a rustic, relaxed feeling, or something more dramatic? The leather look comes in a variety of colors; light or dark brown, mahogany, even black! Check out your local paint store and see what shades appeal to you.

The key to any faux finish is practice and careful application. Let’s look at the steps involved to achieve a great finish.

1. Apply a base coat of glaze to the surface and allow to completely dry. In a container, mix one part water, one part paint and one part glaze and blend thoroughly. Pour the glaze into a roller tray. Load the roller with the glaze and roll off the excess on the tray. Roll on a two foot square section of the darker glaze in odd shaped patches. Try to reproduce the appearance of a swatch of leather.

2. The next step is to blend the glazes together. Moisten and wring out a chamois cloth. Hold the cloth in a flat sided pom-pom and pat along the edge of the irregular shape, blending the edges as you push the glaze out. Adjust the placement of your hand as you work your way around the edge. Adjust the cloth to work with a clean portion and pounce on the center of the shape, removing glaze to create areas of highlights. Clean out your chamois cloth when it appears that you are applying glaze instead of absorbing it.

3. Next, load a foam roller with more glaze and roll on another odd shaped patch of glaze beside your finished section. Allow about a quarter inch between the two sections. Using a clean chamois, pounce along the edges between the new and older sections to create a seam effect between the sections. Continue to work the glaze and roll on an additional section of glaze as previously described. Repeat these steps until your surface is completely covered.

The process does take some time to complete an entire room which is why you may want to take a couple of days to complete the project. There are many other styles of faux finishes but having seen many different styles I think the faux leather finish is on of my favorites. It will add warmth to any room, but looks especially nice in a den or a study.

The beauty of faux finishing leather isn’t only in the final look of the application, it’s also the fact that you can erase or mask many minimal problems with your walls like small dings and dents. The leather look will automatically draw the focus of your eyes away from the blemishes and allow you to see only soft, supple leather.

faux wood painting techniques

Faux painting tips

Faux painting is a very convenient form of painting the interiors of the house which not only is do it yourselfer type of work but also adds an exceptional look to the entire room. It’s a great way of creating a soothing and pleasant atmosphere around the room. Faux painting can be done with many techniques such as sponging, rag rolling, dragging etc depending upon the type of the surface. Each technique has its own individual specialty and needs that extra tools and materials. Faux painting can be easily learned over the internet from the all the online faux painting schools and one can also have a professional degree by doing a course on faux painting. These schools help the student learn faux painting in the easiest possible way so as to help them do all the future painting in and around the home by themselves.

General materials and tools needed

In order to have a basic project of faux painting one need the normal tools which are required for almost all the techniques. The following is the list of all the materials needed for undergoing a basic faux painting project:

* Paint tray
* Lint free rags
* Rubber gloves
* Painters tape
* Zinsser products such as Blend and glaze etc.

General tips on faux painting

The following is a in general list of tips which would be very helpful in performing a faux painting project in a most simple but sweet way:

* The surface should and must be prepared very properly before starting to decorate it.

* The experimentation should be done first on a sample board rather then directly approaching the wall.

* The work should be divided into small sections. One wall or section should be completed stopping at the corner or the natural break.

* The work should be done very quickly well in time before the glaxe becoming tacky may be around 10 to 15 min. In case of performing negative applications a thick wet edge of unworked glaze should be left at the end of each section to help allow the blending of the next one.

* The use of protective gloves is often recommended while glazing for easy clean up.

* The use of lint free rags such as funnels, diapers, cheesecloth or sheets would be advisable.

In this way following the above tips very sincerely one can get outstanding results from a simple faux painting project.

Faux painting ideas

Faux is a French word for the word ‘false’ or ‘fake’. So we can say that this painting is all about false illusion. It creates an illusion of depth and complexities to the painted walls, doors, and ceilings. Till now we have come across popular effects achieved by faux painting in a stone, parchment, and in an antiquarian. Faux finishing provides a variety of interesting techniques that gives depth and personality to walls and other objects. In other words, we can say that it provides life to the non living things also. Faux painting can be both simple and a complex one. It provides a purpose to everything whether it is wood, marble or leather. It is less expensive alternative for using natural materials. It is a unique style whether it is done by any individual or a professional. Through layering of paints and glazes done by hand it provides the surface appear to be something it is not. It is the easiest and creative outlet for people who are interested in arts and is a wonderful medium for experimentation.

Implementation

Though faux is applied to any kind of surface but it generally involves wall preparation and repair, one or two base layers of paint, one or more coatings of a complementary glaze and paint mix, and a topcoat that acts as sealer and protectant. But it is not so that it is only limited to walls, it is also useful for revitalizing furniture or cabinets and adds appeal to walkways or other concrete structures. Faux paintings are applied for bare walls. Before one get out the sponge the wall should be ready and clean so that one can give a background color to it. Light colors are always ideal as a background as they show through the overlying paint to some degree and help in creating a sense of depth or roughness. Experienced painters recommend the background to be painted with semi-gloss or satin paint as most of the faux paints dry slowly on slightly slick backing surface which tends to heighten the desired effect.

faux brick painting techniques

Faux finishes are a great way to jazz up your space with little cost or effort. Faux finishing can also be an economical and sustainable alternative to other finishes, such as wood and stone in certain applications. Ideally, a decorative painter should be brought into the project as early as possible, so that he or she can make recommendations at the same time other key decisions are made and have input on project management.

Creating faux effects such as making your walls look like they are made of plaster or suede can also really make your room stand out. You can easily learn how to create these seemingly difficult finishes at your local paint store.

Sponging is very easy and inexpensive. You can find sponges at local home centers or craft stores. Basically; all you do is sponge the paint onto the wall lightly without sliding the sponge over the surface. Begin by applying motifs every 12", over a surface of 4' x 4'.

Rag- rolling, sponging, stippling are a few of the styles under this category well observed in India. On the outset it may look like a difficult task. Ragging: this technique produces a delicate, fabric-like texture with a soft, variegated appearance. The procedure is done by soaking a bunched up rag in a mixture of texture color and finishing glaze, and then dabbing the rag on the wall (over a coat of dried base color) in various patterns.

Sample boards allow you to select just the custom finish that suits your room and your style. Customized finishes provide a way to express your personality and pull the total look of your home together, from ceiling, floors and walls to window treatments, rugs and pillows. In the business world customized finishes provide a more pleasant environment, which can increase productivity and enhance your company image. Custom wall treatments add focus and grandeur to any room and will enrich the quality of life there.

Glazes are made of oil-based paints mixed with linseed oil and are more transparent than washes. They give a sleek glow to walls. Glazes are sold un-tinted, so to get the color you want you'll need to add pigment which can be found at craft and hobby stores or your local home center.

Many other finishes such as color washing, frottage, sponging, are all faux painting techniques that will create a mood or the illusion of texture on a plain wall. You can opt for real texture by using Venetian plaster, textural plaster, or even a crackle faux finish can add texture and variation to a space or object. Color and texture are fun and interesting and can bring a completely new look to your home with little cost or expense if you do-it-yourself.

faux marble painting techniques

Our prehistoric ancestors knew all about the power of paint. Today, faux painting techniques allow anyone to give their home a magical makeover. Indoors and out, faux paint finishes can transform walls and floors, fittings and furnishings.

Faux painting can give new life to a dull room or a drab outdoor area. Marble and wood grain finishes are some of the best-known faux painting techniques, but there are many more, including brick effects and the appearance of leather. Antique and distressed finishes can be used to create the style and atmosphere of a bygone age in old houses or can refresh and embellish existing décor.

Brick and Block Effects

Raw brick is a popular look for use both indoors and out. You can add texture to a flat wall or turn dull concrete into attractive brickwork. With stencils and the right paint, it is a relatively simple task to add pattern and color to boring floors or paths. The illusion of brickwork visible behind peeling plaster is an amusing and visually effective way to create the impression of age and that antique ‘lived-in’ look.

Wood Finishes

With quality wood an expensive investment, faux painting that recreates a wood grain look is an economical alternative for doors, window frames and other household fittings. Any kind of wood look can be replicated, from patinated mahogany to rustic pine or the distressed appearance of driftwood. The dragging technique that is usually used to simulate wood grain can be especially useful if you need to match a door or window to existing wood fittings. Other items, including picture frames, fireplaces and furniture can also be transformed to match a room.

The Luxurious Look of Marble

Craftsmen centuries ago learned how to use paint to give ordinary materials the opulent appearance of marble. Faux marble can give your kitchen and bathroom an expensive and luxurious look. Paint applied with a sponge and fine brush and completed with a glossy finish help to create the illusion of fine marble. As with wood, many different effects can be reproduced. For example, a granite effect is popular for kitchen counter tops.

Other Stylish Effects

With the right materials and knowledge, a range of exotic and stylish finishes can be achieved using paint, including metallic finishes. Faux chrome details can complement contemporary homes, whereas faux bronze can add the finishing touch to a traditional room furnished with antiques.

Other faux painting techniques that simulate a warm and lived-in look include Tuscan finishes, perfect for uneven surfaces. Tuscan finishes use warm, earthy colors to create a textured and layered appearance. The Tuscan finish is ideal for kitchens and dining areas, and complements floors tiled in terracotta, but can equally add style to a living room. Vine and acanthus motifs used as a stenciled border provide a finishing touch.

Faux painting allows you to coordinate décor schemes and achieves a unified overall appearance. Antique and distressed finishes can help bring the look of a room together. New furniture and fittings can be given a glowing patina that makes them look as if they have been around for centuries. Textured finishes such as color washes can help achieve this visual effect. On furniture or doors, crackle glazes dry to look like antique varnishing.