Specialist Painting Techniques

Sponging

Materials

• wall paint in two or more colours
• painter's tape (for masking off woodwork)
• disposable gloves
• natural sea sponges with medium to heavy textures
• strip of stiff, thin cardboard
• paper plates (for blotting)

1. Using one paint colour, apply your base coat and allow to dry.

2. Dampen the sponges then wring them as dry as possible. Dip a sponge into your contrast colour and then dab onto a paper plate to remove excess.

3. Gently press against the wall and lift. Continue in a random pattern. As you get to the corners use the cardboard to protect the adjoining wall.

4. Add additional colours if you want to, starting with the darkest colour and working to the lightest.

Crackle

1. Apply a flat base coat and allow to dry for at least 4 hours.

2. Apply an even coat of Crackle liberally to the surface using a brush or a roller.

3. Allow Crackle to dry a minimum of 1 hour, no longer than 7 days.

4. Apply the top-coat using a brush or a roller using as few strokes as possible. For small cracks, apply a thin amount of the top-coat. For larger cracks, apply a heavier amount of the top-coat. The method used for applying the top-coat will affect the final look of the Crackle.

5. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

Frottage

1. Mix 1 part paint with 4 parts glaze. Stir until colour is consistent.

2. Pour into a tray.

3. Cut plastic sheeting into 3" x 3" squares and then crumple.

4. Load a roller with the glaze colour, removing excess glaze material by rolling off the ribbed area of the paint tray.

5. Starting at the top corner of the wall, roll a thin, even coat of the glaze colour onto a 3" x 3" section, cutting in with a brush when necessary.

6. Open the plastic sheet and lay it over the wet glaze colour. Using a dry brush, roller, or cloth, lightly smooth the plastic against the surface. Leave the plastic sheet in place.

7. Roll the glaze colour onto the next 3" x 3" section, overlapping the edge of the previous section.

8. Apply another sheet of plastic, overlapping each plastic square.

9. Continue until the entire wall has been covered with plastic sheeting.

10. Peel the plastic sheeting from the wall after the entire wall has been covered.

Whatever style you want for your home, there's bound to be a paint technique out there for you. Why don't you try out a few and see which one you prefer.