How to Prepare Wash and Glaze for Faux Painting

Most faux painting techniques use washes or glazes, applied over a solid-color base coat, to create texture and other special effects on walls.

Things You'll Need

• Artist Oil Colors
• Brushes
• Japan Colors
• Acrylic Paints
• Latex Paints
• Paint Thinner
• Turpentine
• Rubber Gloves
• Buckets

Instructions

Prepare a Wash

1. Select a latex paint color that coordinates with the color of the wall you are painting.

2. Pour one part latex paint and two parts water into a bucket or a large can.

3. Mix well. The wash is now ready to apply to the wall.

Prepare an Acrylic Glaze

1. Select an acrylic paint color for tinting the glaze.

2. Pour two parts acrylic paint and one part acrylic glaze into a bucket or large can if you're sponging or ragging on. Use five parts acrylic glaze and one part acrylic paint if you're dragging, stippling or striping.

3. Add one part water to dilute the paint.

4. Mix well. The glaze is now ready to apply to the wall.

Prepare an Oil Glaze

1. Select an alkyd paint for tinting the glaze.

2. Pour one part alkyd paint and one part oil glaze into a bucket or large can.

3. Add one part paint thinner. (For faster drying, use less oil glaze and more paint thinner.)

4. Mix well. The glaze is now ready to apply to the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• You can vary the ratio of water to paint. The more paint you use, the more durable the painted surface will be.

• Latex washes work well for faux painting techniques such as sponging and ragging on. Because they dry quickly, they are not recommended for other techniques such as dragging, stippling or striping.

• Use acrylic glaze on a wall that has a latex finish coat. Tint with artist's acrylics.

• Increasing the ratio of glaze to paint makes a more translucent glaze.

• Use an oil-based glaze on a wall that has an oil-based finish coat. Tint with alkyd paint, japan colors or artist's oils.

• Oil glazes stay wet and workable longer than acrylic glazes. Use turpentine to create a glaze that dries more slowly. (This is useful for detailed, intricate work.)

• Thoroughly air-dry rags that have been used with alkyd paints, paint thinner, or turpentine before throwing them away.

• Have adequate ventilation when working with solvents such as paint thinner and turpentine.

• Keep paint and paint products out of reach of children.

• Have adequate ventilation when you are mixing and applying glazes and washes and while they are drying.

• Carefully read labels on paint and paint products for warnings and follow directions for proper use.

• Wear gloves to protect your hands from chemicals in paint and paint products, and to make washing up easier.