The Bellagio Faux Finish

I recently was asked a question about the Bellagio Faux Finish Technique. Because I had not yet done this particular finish, I did some research and found some great step by step videos from Expert Village. The Bellagio finish uses layers of tinted plaster that are both troweled and brushed on to give a dimensional look. You can use any color combination and even add in some metallics for added depth.

Video #1 - Supplies needed for the Bellagio Finish

Video #2 - Basecoating with roller

Video #3 - Tinted plaster laid on with a trowel

Video #4 - Adding depth with a darker color

So, there ya have it. Pretty easy right? And this finish can be done in any color. Just follow the simple steps and you are on your way to a professional looking faux finish that looks like it should be in the Bellagio!

Here is a great example of a Bellagio finish done by an artist friend of mine named Ellen Leigh.

How about this golden toned bellagio finish done by Mural Magic?


You can even add a layer of metallic plaster or glaze - adds depth and dimension.


www.tonyswallsofart.com

Bathroom Mural Ideas

By Murals and Masterpieces in NJ

A bathroom is a really fun place to decorate. It is a room separate from everything else -a place to sit and have some peace and quiet. It is a place where you can get away and have some privacy for a few short moments (especially if you have 3 little ones like me, but more often than not - they follow me in the bathroom. LOL)

The bathroom is one room in the home that you can really get creative with and not worry about it coordinating with adjoining rooms. Even if your color scheme in the rest of your home is more neutral and and toned down - in a bathroom, you can let your hair down and use use some color for heaven sake! There is no better way to add life to bathroom walls than a beautiful hand painted wall mural. The themes are pretty much endless.

I have done some research on the internet (one of my favorite things to do) and I found so many great bathroom mural ideas. You are going to love these!

This first one, I think is soooo creative and something I have never seen before - A Circus themed bathroom! How cool is that? This one was done by Rene of Rene Gebhart Designs.

And we have all seen the tropical themed bathroom. This mural was painted by Robin Cambria.




How about this gorgeous Tuscan Style mural over the tub? If i had that in my bathroom, I don't think I would ever leave! This one was done by Bill Briggs of Briggs Art Studio out of Tennessee.




Here is another archway / column mural overlooking the water. I love how realistic this scene looks! Mural by www.rickartinteriormurals.com




How about a fun under the sea scene painted above the tile? I love the bright oranges & yellows in the fish. They just pop against the blue. It was done by The Art of Christina Carstens.




I have a thing for HUGE flowers. First of all, the rust / red color is a great base color for these beautiful big flowers. The artist did an amazing job! www.artexpressionsltd.com




This one is quite original. It has an art deco feel, but also a bit whimsical. Love the colors in this bathroom - brown, gold, and sea foam green as the accent color (within the mural). www.dandishman.com





Well, that is all I have for now. The list goes on, but I have a 6 month old who is quite hungry. Until next time!.......

BTW, I also have a couple other sites that you might be interested in checking out.

Painter Mommy (my Mommy fun site)
Nursery Murals and More (my Nursery Murals fun site)
Surfaces with Paint - (my NY Painting Biz)

Tips on Prepping for a Faux Paint Finish

I cannot ever say it enough - Prepping is KEY when doing any type of faux paint finish. I have the tendency to OVER prep at times, but I would rather do that then run into an issue later on.

I had a job this past week doing a plaster type finish called Old World Plaster. Click here to see pictures and read more about it.

I recorded a short video on what I do to prep before painting. I share a few simple tips to help make things easier once the finish is ready to be applied.

• Dropcloths
• Taping
• Keeping Tools Organizes

Check out the video!

So, let me know what you think. And feel free to share some ways that you like to prep a room before painting. I always love to hear comments!

Ragging Faux Finish Technique

I just recently finished a fun faux finish job for my church. I paint for them whenever they need me too (mostly murals). But this time, they asked me to do something decorative for their new Welcome Center.

I chose to do a classic faux paint finish called Ragging. It isn't as easy as let's say a color wash or sponging, but only because it can be hard getting the rag - JUST RIGHT. It takes some getting used to, but once you figure out how to manipulate the paint & glaze on the wall and get a rythm - you are good to go!

I went through over 25 rags in this room. I always change the rag once it gets too soaked with paint. This can cause the finish to get muddy and blotchy. I often like to use the really socked rags to get up into the corners where the wall and ceiling meet. But otherwise a fresh crumpled rag is the best - you can really see the texture.

With this project, I purchased bags of cotton rags from my local paint supply store, but you can also use old white T-shirts. They are the same cotton material. In the bag of rags, I actually found that their were some different thicknesses of cotton material. The best were the ones that were a bit thicker. The thin ones did not hold their shape well and didn't show much of that "ragging" texture.

Here is an example of what the finish looks like up close:

I was very happy with the outcome. It is a beautiful tighter finish that looks fabulous up close. And because this room will be used as a Welcome Center - I thought it would be a very welcoming look for new guests looking for more info about the church.

The number one tip I have for anyone attempting to do any faux paint finish for the first time is to practice with your color combinations on sample boards. I like to use a material called Polystyrene. And be sure to use a good quality glaze with a long open time (meaning that it doesn't dry fast). This will allow the glaze / paint mixture to be more movable - longer. The last thing you need is to have the finish dry on you before you have the chance to blend it.

Feel free to share your tips and ideas on the ragging faux finish. I would love to see examples of your own work! Comment below.

How to do a Tissue Paper Faux Finish

www.tzinksatouchofclass.com

The tissue paper faux finish is a great finish to do if you have walls with slight imperfections. Because you are actually adding a texture to the wall with the tissue paper it hides those imperfections and allows them to be a part of the beauty of the final finish.

It is so easy to do. Here are some simple step by step instructions:

1. Gather your materials

• White tissue paper
• Paint
• Glaze
• Wallpaper Paste
• Mini Roller
• Painter's Tape
• Drop Cloth
• Paint Tray
• and anything else you might need....

2. Tape off the areas that you will not be painting such as trim, ceiling, and baseboards

3. Prepare the tissue paper by tearing off all 4 sides of the paper so there are no straight lines. We are going for an organic ripped look on all the edges. Leave a few sheets with some straight edges for the ceiling & corner areas.

Then crumple the paper as much as you can and flatten out slightly. Do this to all of your paper so that you can be ready for the next step.

4. Apply the wallpaper paste to a 3 foot by 3 foot section of the wall with a small roller. You can also use paint as the glue.

5. Then the fun part - Apply the tissue paper (while the paste or paint is still wet) Start at the top corner of the ceiling and work your way down and across applying the paste and then papering until everything is done. Make sure there are no air pockets between the wall and the paper. Bubbles can cause trouble later. Start smoothing in the center and work your way out to the edges.

6. Wait 24 hours for the paper to completely dry and then base coat your walls with whatever color you choose (2 coats)

7. Once the paint is fully dry, you can begin glazing. You will want to use a darker glaze or even a stain and seal. Brush it on and then wash it in with a damp sponge. You may want to wash some off to reveal the color underneath. The glaze highlights the texture of the paper giving the wall a unique aged and distressed look.

Here are a couple nice examples of the tissue paper faux finish in action. It really does add a richness with both the texture and glaze and can be done in any color you choose.

You can also get creative by adding raised relief stencil designs as you can see in the picture at the top of the post.

www.hmwishes.com



www.theassistant.wordpress.com

Wet on Wet Color Wash Faux Finish

As a professional faux painter, the Color Wash is one of my favorite faux finishing techniques. It is quick and easy and adds a subtle and elegant feel to walls that were previously bland and lifeless. It adds depth and dimension. It gives walls just a hint of SOMETHING as opposed to just a regular one color paint job.

A colorwash can be done with almost any combination of colors. I often play with paint colors that I already have, to come up with something unique. Practicing first is very important because once the paint is on your wall it isn't always easy to get it off without starting over.

There are a few different ways to do a colorwash and many more tools. But in this post I will be discussing the wet on wet color wash technique. This is when you start with a clean slate (boring white or beige colored walls) and you mix the glaze colors directly onto the wall and blend.

My favorite tool to use for color washing is The Woolie, but in the wet on wet colorwash, the best tool to use is a Soft Bristle Brush.

I came across a great video on the wet on wet color wash by Faux Like a Pro. (They offer great Faux Finish Painting products, by the way). Here is a list of things that are discussed:

• 2 color color wash
• Need long open time glaze
• Wet on wet technique
• 5 parts glaze to 1 part paint
• Use soft brush
• Long Sweeping / Broad Strokes
• Start with dominant color
• Space between colors
• Final pass is with clear glaze to blend
• Blend wet glaze with bristle block brush

If you are in need of Faux Finishing Tools or Great DIY Books on Faux Painting and Murals - please Check out my Store!

We have a new look!

I finally got my act together and gave this site a much needed makeover! Let me know what you think! Comment below.

As you can see at the top there is a navigation bar with a few things listed. They are links to my other painting related websites.

Nursery Murals - Great ideas and inspiration concerning Nursery Murals and Decor. We also offer fun giveaways. Be sure to check out the one that is going on now for a 7 piece movable mural set by Wallsy Tales. Click here to enter!

Surfaces with Paint -Do you want to see examples of my work? How about some DIY tips? This is my New York based painting biz. We specialize in Faux Paint & Plaster Finishes, Custom Stenciling, and Hand Painted Wall Murals.

Painter Mommy - This site is all about what it's like to be a busy mom, artist, and entrepreneur. I share inspiration, stories, internet tips, blogging insights, fun pictures & videos, product reviews, and so much more. Be sure to stop by and subscribe via email so you can stay connected. I always love to hear the thoughts and ideas of my readers.

Murals & Faux Store - This is my newest endeaver. For those of you looking for the perfect faux finishing tools for your next painting project. I have come up with a list of my favorites that you can purchase directly from my store. A few of the categories include: Faux Finishing Books, Tools, Paint Brushes, Acrylic Mural Paint, and Glaze & Varnishes. Please stop by - browse and BUY!

So, there you have it folks - a New Look for a recently neglected site.

I am hoping to post at least once a week with tips, advice, ideas, and pictures to help my readers learn and get inspired! Stay tuned everybody!

Oh, and don't forget to check out the Giveaway on my Nursery Site!

How to Thin Acrylic Paints

BASICS ACRYLICS SET/6 4 oz

Here is a reader question about painting with acrylic paints:

I have recently painted a small mural in my nursery. I just used acrylic paints as it was a small project with just a few colors. However, the colors look rather flat and heavy. Is there any way I can sand the image? or what would you suggest for me to do to lighten it up a bit, or give it more depth? ~Kerri

Hi Kerri,

I would not sand the mural, unless you plan on painting the entire wall over again. But from the sound of it, if you say the paint has come out heavy and flat looking, then maybe it would be best to start over.

When painting with acrylics, it is important to use a thinning medium - something to make the paint more fluid and moveable. I use a product called - matte medium. All you have to do is dip your brush into the medium and then into your color and it does wonders.

Acrylic Medium Golden Fluid Matte Medium 8 oz

You really cannot fix the paint once it has dried. If you are truly determined not to have to start over, then you may want to wash over the mural with a few lighter versions of the colors that are already there. Be sure to use a medium to mix with the paint.

If all else fails, start over!!

Check out this book on:
New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium

Mural Wallpaper Cutouts & Stickers

Another reader question:

Hi, I am in the process of opening a day care center. I need help with decorating the walls.
Is there any place where the wall stickers are sold, where i can just get a ready made one in form of a wall paper?

Yes, you can actually purchase them online on Amazon.com. Please click on the links below.



Click here for more Wallpaper Cutouts & Stickers

How to Paint (Mural) a Shingled Roof

Another reader has written and asked how to paint roof shingles in a mural that they are doing.

I'm painting an interior wall mural and need an effect for shingles on a roof. I'm guessing a similar technique to the stone block effect using a darker color for the base coat which would be whatever you call the "mortar" area of a shingle. Then I will glaze coat a lighter color in shingle shapes? How do I get the perspective of say, three rows of 4x8" shingles?

Here are a few step by step instructions:

1. Gather reference pictures like the one above. All you do is go to Google Images and type in what you are looking for. A million pictures will come up.

2. Choose colors going from light to medium to dark. I would pick 4 to 5 different colors to work with.

3. Practice on a sample board. This is always my number one suggestion before attempting to paint an actual wall. That way, if you make a mistake, you can figure it out before making a mess of the mural.

4. Paint the area with the darkest color first

5. Measure the area. You may need to use some perspective skills depending on how the roof is being viewed in the mural. Notice in the above picture that you are looking at the roof from the bottom, so the shingles look smaller at the top. The first picture below is one point perspective and the second picture is two point perspective. This will give you an idea on how you should be measuring.


The Art of Perspective: The Ultimate Guide for Artists in Every Medium

Tip: use a watercolor pencil to mark your measurements. It will be washable on your painted surface and you can get them in any color.

6. Start painting the bottom shingles first. You will have to layer one on top of the next. Use your medium color.

7. Paint in the shadows with your darkest color

8. Paint in the highlights with your lightest color. Remember that your light source will be coming from one direction, in this case the top of the shingle roof, especially if your imaginary sun is out.

So, that should give you an idea of where to start. The hardest part will probably be getting the perspective right. I always have trouble with that. But once you figure that out - you should be fine. Happy Painting!!

Be sure to check out this great book on Perspective Painting.