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#262411 08/07/06 12:57 PM
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Summer6 Offline OP
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Hello, I will be painting my bathroom along with a couple blank canvases. I need to know this. I want the background color which is white to come though somewhat but don't want to sponge paint. Is there another easy method to use? Second I wanted to know do I need to prime my new canvases first or do I just go ahead and start painting? Have a great week and thank you for the advise! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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#262412 08/10/06 01:40 PM
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Summer6 Offline OP
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Aw, no help out there or advise for me?

#262413 08/10/06 04:48 PM
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Zebra
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Here are some ideas:

You can dry brush another color on top of white. That means you dip your brush in the paint, then dab almost all of it off, then paint with what's left. It gives a streaky look instead of blotchy like sponge-painting. Faux artists do this a lot--it adds "depth".

You can also mix your paint with water and put a "wash" on your walls--the paint is a very thin coat of whatever color you use, so your white would show through. This might work for a bathroom really well, particularly if you are going for the "spa" colors or "beachy" colors.

Third technique: paint as normal, but before the paint dries, wipe some off -- like you do with stain. You'd get different effects depending on what you used -- rags, trash bags, sponges--whatever. Just don't let it dry first.

If you want white to show through on your canvases, you probably don't need to prime them first, but that's just my opinion! You could prime them with a tiny can of white paint (got any ceiling paint or trim paint lying around?) instead of buying gesso or something at the art store.

Good Luck!

#262414 08/12/06 11:12 AM
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Summer6 Offline OP
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Thanks Bella, I am not the world's best painter, so I think I am going to try the ragging after I paint. After all if it looks horrible, I can try again. That is the cool thing about painting. And yes, I did not think of using the ceiling paint for the base. Super idea with a gallon of paint being $24!! Thanks again <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

#262415 08/31/06 07:09 PM
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Gecko
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Hi Summer,
How is your bathroom project going? Would love to hear an update if you have the time.

Happy Decorating!



#262416 09/07/06 06:22 PM
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Summer6 Offline OP
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Hi there,

I decided on a grey blue color and I like it, but hubby thinks it looks somewhat like a jail cell!!! OMG!!!
I am going to color wash over this base and see if it lightens up any??? I don't know if it will. The base is medium dark. I am going to dilute the 2nd layer with water and use sea sponges, but I don't know if this techinque will work since I am working with a medium tone color??

#262417 09/08/06 03:15 AM
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Sorry this is so long, but here is the way to ge around the gray-blue but still keep the feel you seemed to be going for.

For a traditional looking colourwash with great open time-

The recipe:

In an empty gallon paint bucket - a diluted mixture of:

2/3 bucket matte clear acrylic glaze
1/3 or thereabouts plain water (add 1/8 cup or less water to the bucket at a time - mixing constantly, till it is a medium-thin lotion-like consistency on your fingertips.)

small bottle of acrylic paint 2-4 shades paler color than the wall. (I don't recommend stark white here, since you mentioned using blue-gray it will look like you tried to "fix a mistake" - do one of the the lighter shades...once it is on the base paint, it will be less stark)
Do a small test patch in a unnoticeable spot...keep a damp rag nearby - it will wash off.

Drizzle and mix in your lighter color - just a little bit at a time.
(this should be mixed to be the paint world equivalent of the LIPGLOSS to Lipstick ratio of sheerness)

If doing a larger space than a small bathroom, this recipe doubles and triples well. Just be sure to mix ALL the CW liquid at one time so it will all be the same intensity.

I have done this colourwash for countless clients and it works every single time! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

This will give you a MUCH more workable surface, and if you usually work slowly, will give you much more open time than the plain paint/water colour washing liquid recipes usually available.

I urge you to try using a natural bristle, 3 inch wide chip brush - super cheap at Lowes or Home Depot but fantastic for this very job, is lightweight and easier to control than heavier glazing brushes or unwieldy sponges. These brushes give you the instant cloudiness of colourwash and keeping the damp sponge in the free hand, you can use it to smooth and cloud the glaze to acheive the colour washing "seamless" feel.

It is practically impossible to achieve a true color wash working with only a seasponge.

Also, using the sponge, if you don't do this work every day, it is VERY difficult to achieve an even coverage and texture in working out your corners...nothing is worse than a DIY finish that looks great on the broad walls, but gets mudddled in the corners. That is the difference between pro-finishes and obvious DIY walls. You want a colourwash - not "sponged" walls. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Use more glaze in your recipe for more open time.
More water for faster drying...

Please note: If you use the same base paint color, diluted with water, you are NOT changing the color tint- only diluting the opacity of the paint and making IT sheer...you won't see much, IF ANY color difference at all.
Here's to Beautiful Walls and Easy Finishes! <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />


Well behaved women rarely make history.....
#262418 09/12/06 01:46 PM
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Summer6 Offline OP
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Well hey there ;-)

I decided on a muted green and mixed with glaze and the Fleor something or other... and a little water. Well, I am extremely pleased! I did not do the colorwash as I read when you start out ( newbie ) this can be very difficult to achieve so I did sponging instead. I really like the way it turned out and my bh does also. Thanks so much and have a great week!!!

#262419 09/12/06 03:27 PM
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Gecko
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ArtGlam - Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your colorwash recipe with us, and then taking the time to elaborate on how to apply it! No need to apologize for the length - your post was very informative. I especially appreciate your tips about the type of brush to use. The variety can be confusing for many people starting a painting project.

Summer - I'm so glad you and your hubby are delighted with your sponged effect! Did you have fun with the process? I love this technique - fairly fast and easy to apply and difficult to mess up (altho, I agree with ArtGlam, that the corners can be challenging). My son's bathroom is sponged in 2 different shades of blue, giving it the look of a cloudy sky. Visitors always touch it to see whether it's paint or wallpaper.


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