| DECORATIVE PAINTING
Getting the Right Mix
When sponge painting or rag-rolling, what's the secret of getting the right consistency?
A good mix for latex paint is about 1 part water to 8 parts paint for sponging, and 1 part water to 4 parts paint for ragging. This ratio will vary from paint to paint. Generally, the higher the quality of the paint, the more it needs to be thinned. Thinning paints gives them a softer look and makes the texture of the rag and sponge more evident. The paint should cling to the wall without running down in drips. Also, use a damp—not wet—sponge or rag to dab the paint on.
Clean, Sharp Stenciling
When I do stenciling, I never gt nice sharp lines. How do I stop the paint from getting under the stenci and causing fuzzy edges?
The three keys to good stenciling are using the proper brush, not loading the brush with too much paint, and keeping the stencil in place. Use a stencil brush with flat, blunt bristles. Dip the stencil brush in the paint and blot the excess on a rag until the brush is almost dry. Then dab the paint on instead of brushing it. To keep the stencil in place, use repositionable adhesive from an art supply store. Spray the adhesive on the back of the stencil and press it in place. The adhesive lets you peel off and reuse the stencil without damaging the stencil or the wall.
SPONGE-AND-RAG PAINTING
Sponging combined with ragging produces an attractive, subtle effect. All you need is a paint roller, two or three paint trays, natural (not square cellulose) sponges, and lint-free cheesecloth. Use latex paint, which dries quickly between applications of color and cleans up with water. First, select a midrange color that you would like to see as dominant. Then select a lighter and a darker version of it and one or two accent colors.
To use a sponge, wet it, wring it out, lightly dab it in paint, and rub off the excess before lightly dabbing the paint on the wall. To rag, dampen a baseball-size wad of cheesecloth, then dab it in paint. Use a stiff-bristle brush to cover any hard-to-reach areas.
How Is It Done?
- Roll on a base coat of the darkest shade of the main color. When dry, sponge on the lightest shade in a dappled pattern, using a twisting and patting motion.
- After the light shade dries, sponge on the first accent color and let it dry. Then use a balled-up rag to dab on the sec-ond accent color.
- When the accent color dries, use a rag to dab the midrange shade of the main color over most of the wall, letting the other colors peek through.
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