| |
| Stenciling is an easy way to
add a custom pattern to your walls, floors and furniture.
Inspiration can be found in your home by looking at repeat
wallpaper patterns, rugs, fabric and tiles. I find stencils
look most pleasing over textured backgrounds, such as
ragging, sponging, or color washes. This section features
a subtle beige pattern over a ragged wall. Areas are faded
to resemble old damask fabric. |
|
Base Color
Benjamin Moore Paint #HC-26
Glaze Colors
(A) Benjamin Moore Paint #HC-46
(B) Benjamin Moore Paint #HC-159
|
|
How-To Instructions
|
|
Prep 1:
Before base coating, make sure your surface is in good
condition. Patch holes and cracks with spackling paste,
and wash any dirt from surface using a mild soap. Mask
all windows, baseboards, and moldings using 2"
painter's tape. Evenly apply paint with roller. Base
coat should always be a satin or semi-gloss latex finish.
Two coats may be necessary depending on coverage. Let
dry 24 hours.
|
|
Prep 2:
Before you faux, prepare
your glaze/paint mixture(s). A 5:1 ratio (5 parts glaze
to 1 part paint) is highly recommended. This ratio will
allow you time to work the finish and prevent it from
drying too fast.
|
 |
Step 1:
Before stenciling, create a ragged texture for the
background of the stencil. Evenly roll on glaze
A in a vertical fashion using a short nap. Fill
in a 4 to 6 sq. ft. leaving a jagged edge where
the next section of glaze will be applied. As you
roll around moldings and corners you will notice
the roller leaving a slight gap. Fill in this space
by stippling in the glaze with a 3" inch chip
brush. |
 |
Step 2:
It's time to rag! Hold a lint-free, white cotton
rag in your hand allowing it to hang generously
over your fingers. Hit the wall with firm, rapid
movements, twisting your wrist from left to right.
Let your hand skim freely over the wall, removing
most of the glaze yet still leaving distinct imprints.
Concentrate on the heavily saturated areas. Work
your wall from corner to corner until it looks consistent.
Let dry 24 hrs. |
 |
Step 3:
Measure width of stencil, deciding how many will
fit across the most dominant wall. Using low-tack
tape on the edges, affix your stencil to the surface.
Double-check the placement of your stencil with
a level to ensure straight lines. Dip the tip of
your bristle block brush into glaze A offloading
excess onto a paper towel. Lightly brush the glaze
through the stencil using a broken circular motion.
Align your registration marks before continuing.
|
 |
Step 4:
To create a three-dimensional look, add shadows
and highlights with a small pointed brush. In general,
highlights fall on the top edges of the form, and
shadows fall below. You can use either a darker
value of the stencil color or a complimentary color.
Here I used a complimentary windsor blue that I
drew from the client's rug. |
|
Tip 1
You can create pleasant variations in a large,
allover pattern by varying the pressure on your
stencil brush. With large motifs, one particularly
effective method is to brush around the edges
first with the freshly loaded brush, then move
inwards, thus uniformly fading out the centers.
Tip 2
Try different ways of
using your brush to get the look you want. For
a transparent look, hold your brush on an angle
and work in a circular motion; for an opaque look,
hold your brush with a tight grip and tap the
surface repeatedly using a pouncing motion.
Tip 3
Clean off both brush and
stencil frequently to prevent paint from building
up in the heel of the brush or around the cut
edges of the stencil. Build-up creates smudges,
which then must be corrected with a small, stiff,
wet brush.
|
|
 |
FINAL FINISH |
|
|
Supplies:
- gallon of glaze
- bristle block brush for stenciling
You will also need the following
basic supplies from your local hardware store:
- paint roller
- medium nap
- short nap
- roller tray
- 3" latex cutting brush
- two 3" chip brush for stippling corners
- small pointed brush for highlighting
- large bucket for water
- 2 containers to hold glaze/paint mixture
- painter's tape
- paper towel for off loading paint
- latex gloves
- 100 % cotton rags for texturing and clean up
- drop cloths
|
|
|
|
