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Faux Finishes

"Basic Method of Sponging with Two Colors"
 By Lynn Low
Muralist
 		  
 
THE BASIC METHOD OF SPONGING ON TWO COLORS

 RECOMMENDED FOR AND SMOOTH SURFACE INCLUDING FLOORS AND CEILINGS.
ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR WALLS WITH FLAWS THAT NEED HIDING. CAN ALSO BE USED ON
FURNITURE WITHOUT ORNATE CARVINGS OR DETAILS. HOWEVER NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR SURFACES WITH ELABORATE TRIM OR DETAIL.

MATERIALS NEEDED :
PAINT BUCKETS , MIXING STICKS, PAINT TRAY , SEA SPONGES, BUCKET OF
CLEAR WATER, OLD NEWSPAPERS, CLEAN RAGS AND GLOVES

BASE COAT WITH ANY LATEX COLOR OF YOUR CHOICE. REMEMBER ITS YOUR FIRST
COLOR THAT WILL SHOW THROUGH THE TWO YOU SPONGE ON.


GLAZE COLORANTS :
CUSTOM MIXED EGGSHELL LATEX PAINTS OR ARTISTS ACRYLICS


GLAZE FORMULA :
FOR A LATEX GLAZE YOU WILL NEED:
1 PART COLORANT, 1 PART LATEX OR ACRYLIC GLAZING MEDIUM, AND ONE PART
WATER.

TYPICAL WORKABLE  SECTION SIZE:
A 2 - FOOT WIDE WALL OR SURFACE AREA


STEP ONE:
MIX THE FIRST GLAZE TO THE DESIRED COLOR AND THICKNESS. POUR A SMALL
AMOUNT INTO THE PAINT TRAY. HOLD A DAMPENED SPONGE FLAT SIDE DOWN AND DIP
IT INTO THE GLAZE.. GENTLY SLIDE THE SPONGE OVER THE RIDGES IN THE
PAINT TRAY TO EVENLY COAT THE SPONGE. OFF LOAD ANY EXCESS GLAZE ONTO OLD
NEWSPAPER SO THAT  YOUR FIRST STROKE ISN'T FILLED WITH TOO MUCH GLAZE.

STEP TWO:
SPONGING THE SURFACE: WORK QUICKLY SO THAT THE GLAZE DOES NOT DRY TOO
QUICK ON YOU . REMEMBER YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE INDIVIDUAL PATTERNS THAT
REPEAT , SO TURN YOUR WRIST WITH THE SPONGE SO THAT THE PATTERN BECOMES
RANDOM. ALSO REMEMBER TO POUNCE YOUR SPONGE FLAT AGAINST THE SURFACE
LIGHTLY IN A STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN MOTION, DON'T LET IT SLIP OR YOU WILL
WIND UP WITH STREAKS. ( * SEE REFERENCE PICTURE FOR PROPER HOLDING TECHNIQUE)
APPLY EACH STROKE JUST SO IT BARELY TOUCHES THE LAST ONE AND WORK
CONSISTENTLY, DON'T HOP AROUND THE ROOM FROM WALL TO WALL OR YOUR
PATTERN WILL BE OFF.  REMEMBER TO RELOAD YOUR SPONGE AS OFTEN AS NEEDED.  
LET THIS COAT DRY BEFORE MOVING ON TO NEXT COLOR. THIS STEP COVERS
ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF YOUR BASE COAT.

STEP THREE:
REPEAT STEP TWO WITH YOUR SECOND COLOR, SPONGING SO THAT IT COVERS
ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE WALL. LET DRY.

STEP FOUR:
THE FINAL FINISH REVEALS ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THE BASE COAT
COLOR NOW. THE OVERLAPPING LIGHT AND DARK AREAS CREATE THE ILLUSION OF
DEPTH AND TEXTURE.  ALSO NOTE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL SPONGE STROKES ARE
DISTINGUISHABLE FROM ONE ANOTHER.
 		  
   
  *  Proper holding technique
 
 
 
  Finished Wall
 		  
 
                     


 

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