How to Drag a Faux Finish

Dragging a brush through wet glaze creates stripes.

Artists and artisans of the 18th century popularized the decorative painting of dragging. Dragging achieves a variety of different effects, including wood grain and fine stripes. For strie, also called striping, faux painters drag a stiff brush through wet glaze, creating a pattern or thin, even parallel lines. In contrast, artists use graining combs or steel wool to purposely drag lines that are wavy and irregular to imitate the natural appearance of wood grain.

Things You'll Need

• Spackling compound
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Low-tack painter's tape
• Latex primer
• 2-inch angled paintbrush
• Paint roller
• Paint pan
• Latex paint in satin finish
• Foam roller
• Water-based glazing medium
• Tints or acrylic paint
• Mixing container
• 3-inch-wide stiff brush
• Rag

Instructions

1. Patch any holes or uneven areas of the wall with spackling compound and a putty knife. Allow the compound to dry before sanding the patched areas. Sand until the surface is completely smooth. Dragging works best on a smooth, flawless surface.

2. Tape around the outside of the wall or painting surface with low-tack painter's tape. Prime along the edges of the tape with latex primer and the angled paintbrush. Prime the rest of the wall, using the paint roller.

3. Apply the paint for the background of your strie in one or more smooth coats of paint. Use a latex paint in a satin finish for less friction while dragging the brush.

4. Mix a glaze consisting of water-based glazing medium and tint or acrylic paint. Test the color by painting a sample on the wall and wiping it off with a damp rag.

5. Begin the strie process on the left edge of the wall. Use a small foam roller to apply a strip of glaze approximately 6 inches wide. Lock your wrist while dragging the brush through the wet glaze vertically. Drag your brush over the same area more than once to soften or correct lines. Wipe your brush off after each pass.

6. Apply another strip of glaze to the right of the last strip. Drag this next area, overlapping the last striped part by about ¼ inch. Repeat the process until the entire wall or surface has been dragged.

Tips & Warnings

• If glazing an entire room, tape off alternating walls and allow the walls to dry overnight before starting the next sections.

• To create a softer strie, hold the brush perpendicular to the surface; holding the brush parallel to the surface makes coarser lines.

References

• "The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes;" Pierre Finklestein; 1997
• "Recipes For Surfaces: Decorative Paint Finishes Made Simple;" Mindy Drucker and Pierre Finklestein; 1993