Wet on Wet Color Wash Faux Finish

As a professional faux painter, the Color Wash is one of my favorite faux finishing techniques. It is quick and easy and adds a subtle and elegant feel to walls that were previously bland and lifeless. It adds depth and dimension. It gives walls just a hint of SOMETHING as opposed to just a regular one color paint job.

A colorwash can be done with almost any combination of colors. I often play with paint colors that I already have, to come up with something unique. Practicing first is very important because once the paint is on your wall it isn't always easy to get it off without starting over.

There are a few different ways to do a colorwash and many more tools. But in this post I will be discussing the wet on wet color wash technique. This is when you start with a clean slate (boring white or beige colored walls) and you mix the glaze colors directly onto the wall and blend.

My favorite tool to use for color washing is The Woolie, but in the wet on wet colorwash, the best tool to use is a Soft Bristle Brush.

I came across a great video on the wet on wet color wash by Faux Like a Pro. (They offer great Faux Finish Painting products, by the way). Here is a list of things that are discussed:

• 2 color color wash
• Need long open time glaze
• Wet on wet technique
• 5 parts glaze to 1 part paint
• Use soft brush
• Long Sweeping / Broad Strokes
• Start with dominant color
• Space between colors
• Final pass is with clear glaze to blend
• Blend wet glaze with bristle block brush

If you are in need of Faux Finishing Tools or Great DIY Books on Faux Painting and Murals - please Check out my Store!

Frottage Faux Paint Finish

I met with a client today who had chosen a beautiful and bold faux finish from this book. The finish is called Frottage Painting.

Frottage is a French word meaning 'to rub', and that is exactly how this finish is achieved - by gently smoothing sheets of paper against the wet glaze, and swiftly pulling it away to reveal the base color underneath.

Here are a few step by step instructions on how to achieve this gorgeous finish.

Frottage:

1. Tape - Using low tack painter's tape, tape the top and bottom of the walls. You don't need to tape corners if you are going to use this technique on adjoining walls.

2. Base Coat - apply two coats of pearl or satin finish paint. Allow each coat to dry according to the directions on the paint.

3. Prepare Paper - Crumple sheets of newspaper and then open them up. Let the wrinkles set while you prepare the glaze colors.

4. Glazing - Using separate rollers, apply the glazes in randomly sized blocks over an area about 3 by 3 feet. The blocks should meet each other.

5. Papering - Work as fast as you can and press the wrinkled paper into the wet glaze, then lift off.



6. Seal - apply water based varnish sealer to protect the finish.

Here is what the publisher is saying about this book.

Decorative Paint & Faux Finishes by Sunset is full of new techniques, tips, color ideas, and textured treatments for walls and other surfaces that need fresh paint—and a touch of decoration! Are color choices keeping you from getting your project started? Fret no more! This beautiful book offers pages and pages of full-color photographs that provide suggestions on color combinations for a variety of room shapes and sizes. If you’re buying a newhome or updating an old one, this comprehensive guide has you covered!

Be sure to grab this book, so you can see for yourself what

Aged Wall Finish

Isn't this finish gorgeous? I love how they incorporated the verdigris green of the doors into the wall finish. It was done by Stephanie Tyree of Atlanta Faux Finish. Click the link to go to her site and check out more of her fabulous faux finishing work.

An aged wall finish is a great way to add a comfortable and lived in feel to any space. This finish can be achieved using almost any color.

I am not exactly sure how this artist achieved the above finish, because every faux finisher has their own special techniques, but I might use a rag or even cheesecloth to blend colors, adding darker tones in some areas and leaving other areas lighter where the base color would show through. Notice in the above picture that there were several different colors used. This finish would be great in a powder room - a great place to experiment for you do it yourself-ers!

My best bit of advice to anyone attempting to do any finish on their own, is to try your colors and technique on a sample board first. Happy Painting everyone!

Color Washing - An Easy Faux Finish

www.surfaceswithpaint.com

Color washing is my favorite faux finish, because it is quick and easy to do. It adds subtle color variations and a soft, natural glow to your walls. It is also great at hiding any small imperfections on the wall surface. Best of all, this finish can be done in ANY color.

Here is a list of what you will need:

- Paint
- 2 small buckets (to mix the paint & glaze colors)
- Paint Roller (to roll base color)
- Paint Tray
- 2 4" latex brushes
- Low tack painters tape
- Disposable latex gloves
- Drop cloth

1. Pick Colors - Choose colors that are 2-3 steps away from each other on a color swatch.

2. Prep walls - Repair holes and cracks with spackle, sand, spot prime

3. Tape - Mask off everything that is not to be painted such as baseboards, window seals and frames, crown molding and door jams.

4. Base coat - Paint the room with your base color. Allow it to dry overnight.

5. Mix glazes - Use your base color as one of the glaze colors and then mix your second color in a separate bucker. If you use your base color as a glaze color it adds to the softness of the finish. This is a great trick if you have made the walls too dark with your glaze, you can go in with the base color glaze and blend the colors.

6. Color wash - Apply darkest glaze color with your 4" brush working in a 3 foot area. Use random X or criss-cross strokes with your wrist.

7. Blend - this is very important. You will need to soften and blend the brush strokes when the glaze is still wet. Use a clean 4" brush and move the brush in a light random swooping motion.

You can wait till the entire wall is finished before adding a second color. You can also use both colors at the same time, which, in this case, you would want to use 2 brushes.

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HGTV Article - How to Colorwash a Room

Step by Step Tutorial from Faux Like a Pro