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Color Wash Faux Finish

August 17, 2010 By Colleen Jorgenson 4 Comments

This September I’m starting a paint meme –

 A Passion for Paint.

Any paint projects are welcome – furniture, walls, spray painting, crackle – you name it! So, please check back!

 

Daily Inspiration
Feng Shui – Walls connect Heaven (ceiling) and Earth (floor). When they’re taller than 10 feet it moves ‘Heaven’ too far upward. Add a decorative touch to bring the wall height down. Line up pictures. Add molding or shelving. Anything that divides the wall space.

Color Wash Faux Finish

Before I started painting murals, I did faux finishes back in 1995. Or, let’s just say I tried. After a year or two, I soon realized that faux finishing is an art form, in and of itself. That being said, I stick to simple color washes.

Color Wash Faux Finish

Supplies for a wash are pretty basic –

  1. latex or acrylic paint
  2. glaze or Floetrol
  3. water bucket
  4. two rags – one for glaze, one for water
  5. foam brush to get into the corners and tight spots
  6. Latex gloves

Glaze Mixture
First I pour some paint into the bucket, then add about twice as much glaze as paint, then add water – about the same amount as paint.

Application
There are three ways to apply a glaze –

  1. positive application – applying glaze with rag, roller or brush and manipulating with rag
  2. negative application – after glaze is applied to wall, remove parts of glaze with damp rag
  3. positive/negative combination – this is what I use.

I apply the glaze with my rag or foam brush, take the same rag with glaze, and smoosh it around. Then I take a damp, relatively clean rag and remove parts of the glaze, which allows the basecoat to show through.

I say ‘clean’ rag because I periodically rinse it in water. Then it’s a matter of how much pressure you apply to the wall. More pressure = more glaze removal. Simple. Really!

Color Wash Faux Finish
This wall was tricky because there was light streaming down from a skylight in the ceiling – 20 feet up. I should’ve just left it until the sun changed position, but I didn’t.

Color Wash Faux Finish
This is the ‘after’ – really a bit too dark. But we’ll have to see once the entire space is done. As you can tell, the scaffold isn’t set up yet so I just started on the bottom half of the wall. Not recommended, believe me. Always start at the top!

Color Wash Faux Finish
This front pony wall is in the dining area. Behind it is a stairwell. The wash looks awfully dark here too. It’s a hard space because of all the windows. Lots of reflections, shadows, direct light. It can change in a matter of 15 minutes!

The house is being totally renovated and there are all kinds of contractors on site. I wanted to share some of the extraordinary views from the main rooms I’m painting in.

Color Wash Faux Finish
Here is a bank of windows in the living room.

Color Wash Faux Finish
Another bank of windows. I’m standing in the dining area which steps down to another area. The walls are a deep, deep brown.

Color Wash Faux Finish
And even more windows!

Color Wash Faux Finish
Here’s a pretty good shot of what you look down upon – a gorgeous golf course, nestled in a valley among the foothills in El Dorado County.

Color Wash Faux Finish
One last picture today – this is walking up to the front door. Obviously, the homeowners are avid golfers with this putting green right in their front yard!

Colleen

Filed Under: Home Decor, Paint Surfaces, Paint Walls

Comments

  1. Terrell says

    August 17, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    Oh this will be such a great link!!! I’ll for sure be here for your party! Loving your blog! Have a great afternoon!
    ~Terrell @ FFD~

    Reply
  2. Jenn Erickson says

    August 18, 2010 at 12:00 am

    Wow, Colleen! You make it look so easy! Thank you for breaking it down and giving me the confidence to try a faux wash on my walls!

    Reply
  3. ★All Thingz Related★ says

    August 18, 2010 at 2:25 am

    You always do such a great job! Thanks so much for sharing your tips with us at Anything Related!
    {Rebekah}

    Reply
  4. Regina says

    August 18, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Great post!!!!

    Reply

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    About Me

    Hi there! I'm Colleen, a self-taught artist, writer and blogger, among other things. You don't get to be old enough to order off the Denny's senior menu without accomplishing a few things in life. Read More…

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