To create "limestone bricks" on the facing wall that Golden wants to make the foyer's focal point, she uses the trompe l'oeil painting technique. (More information on trompe l'oeil can be found in the Resources section.) As with any painting technique, Golden suggests completing a practice piece before tackling the entire wall. Note: At this point in the project, it would be a good idea to have an extra set of hands. - Measure and mark the wall for the 9-1/2" by 16" limestone squares ( figure A).
- Snap a chalk line for the height and length of the blocks (figure B). Perfectly straight lines are necessary to create the limestone bricks.
- Tape the chalk lines with grout tape (figure C) -- 1/4" painters tape provides the perfect grout line for this project.
- Sponge the first coat onto the bricks, using a shade lighter than the base coat.
Expert tip: Decorative painter Veda Kirby suggests working in small areas to keep the paint from drying too quickly. - Apply the second coat onto the bricks with a darker shade (figure D).
Note: It's not necessary to allow drying time between the two sets of paint colors: the colors should blend together to create added dimension to the bricks. - After the two sponged coats have dried for about 2 hours, apply a coat of dark shading to the corners of the bricks with a stencil brush (figure E).
- Gently remove the painters tape. It may be necessary to apply more shading to the grout lines after removing the tape.
The next step of the project is to paint the treads and handrails of the staircase. When painting the treads of a staircase, Golden suggests that you alternate between paint and a polyurethane finish to protect the paint in such a high-traffic area.
RESOURCES :
Painting Skills
ISBN: 1842154109
Author: Mike Lawrence
Order this title from Amazon.com.
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