Decorative Finish: Strata

Decorative Finish: Strata
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Strata

Artist: Michelle Kole Decorative Services

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Strata

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Sandstone, Farrow & Ball Dead Salmon paint and Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Titanium White until you have a light, muted pink that will be the main color of your wall. Sandstone has a gray tint to it. You may want to add some white paint or primer to lighten it more. Apply Sandstone mixture to the top edge of your trowel and spread a thin layer over the wall in mainly horizontal strokes.
(Photos 1-2)

2 | Allow the layer in Step 1 to dry and apply a second coat in the same manner.
(Photo 3)

3 | Mix up three color glazes by adding the Farrow & Ball paint or a variation of the Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic colors to tint the Sheer Glazing Medium. You will want a white glaze, a muted burnt sienna glaze, and a rosy mauve glaze, as pictured.
(Photo 4)

4 | Brush the glazes horizontally in bands across the surface and soften with a terry cloth rag. Make different bands of texture by using different tools. Try a softer brush and blend gently up and down, or try using a brush then dragging with a spatula. Experiment with spritzing the wet glaze lightly with water. Let it begin to break up the glaze a bit and then blot with the rag. Watch for drips.
(Photos 5-6)

5 | Add a finishing touch by pouring a bit of the white glaze into the small spray bottle. Moving your arm quickly across in a horizontal movement, spray the white glaze onto the wall.
(Photo 7)

Soften with a blending brush and rag.
(Photos 8-9)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 10)

Featured Products
Sandstone
A versatile acrylic texture with a sandy, slightly course, uniform aggregate that can be left rough or troweled smooth, depending on the desired finish.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW

Michelle Kole

About the Artist
Michelle Kole is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in the creation and installation of decorative surfaces for the interior design and architectural industry. Her love of interiors, art, and beautiful things lead to the creation of Michelle Kole Decorative Surfaces. Michelle has over 20 years experience in the field of custom, hand-applied specialty finishes and site-specific art. Interior designers, architects, and homeowners alike come to her for a unique combination of aesthetic vision, technical knowledge, and craftsmanship. Michelle works in time-honored techniques and mediums and builds upon them in contemporary ways. Based in Brooklyn, NY, her walls, custom artwork and design embellishments can be seen in luxury homes and commercial spaces throughout the New York City tri-state area and beyond.

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Golden Sky

Decorative Finish: Golden Sky
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Golden Sky

Artist: Michelle Kole Decorative Services

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Golden Sky

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix the Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint Cashmere into the Metallic Texture Tint Base Pearl until you have a good consistency to trowel on with slight translucency. Take some of this mixture into a separate container and add water until you have a paint-like consistency. Roll this second mixture onto the wall in a crisscross motion.
(Photo 1)

2 | Using a trowel and a plaster spatula (to load and clean the trowel), apply the first tinted Metallic Texture to the wall in a thin, even coat. Use an overlapping “X” movement.
(Photo 2)

3 | Allow to dry and apply another coat with a trowel in the same manner as Step 2.
(Photo 3)

4 | Using the original Metallic Texture Tint Base Pearl and 2″ and 3″ chip brushes, loosely outline the shape and layout of your clouds. Try to balance your negative space in between the clouds for an overall balanced wall. Step back often to check your composition. Blend and soften the edges of the clouds. On a large wall, you should have larger gold areas left without clouds.
(Photo 4)

5 | Mix Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Titanium White into Soapstone. Use this matte texture to fill and “fluff up” your clouds. Leave some of the Metallic Texture base showing. Apply with a brush and smooth with your spatula and palette knife. Aim for brush strokes and smooth areas on the clouds. Allow to dry. Continue to fluff clouds with a chip brush or artist brush with the Soapstone mixture until you are happy with the shapes and flow of the wall.
(Photo 5)

6 | Mix a small amount of Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint Just Brass with the Glazing Medium. With an artist brush, define the shape of your clouds by outlining and blending outward around them.
(Photo 6)

7 | Every cloud has a silver and gold lining. Here is the final finish.
(Photo 7)

Featured Products
Metallic Texture
With a base color of Gold or Pearl, use on its own or have tinted on-demand. Produces a soft, metallic sparkle with varied sheens.
SHOP NOW
Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint
Water based, interior acrylic paints highly pigmented with iridescents to produce strong metallic effects.
SHOP NOW
Soapstone
A unique “cousin” of Venetian Plaster that exhibits a subtle movement of color across the surface with little to no sheen.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW

Michelle Kole

About the Artist
Michelle Kole is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in the creation and installation of decorative surfaces for the interior design and architectural industry. Her love of interiors, art, and beautiful things lead to the creation of Michelle Kole Decorative Surfaces. Michelle has over 20 years experience in the field of custom, hand-applied specialty finishes and site-specific art. Interior designers, architects, and homeowners alike come to her for a unique combination of aesthetic vision, technical knowledge, and craftsmanship. Michelle works in time-honored techniques and mediums and builds upon them in contemporary ways. Based in Brooklyn, NY, her walls, custom artwork and design embellishments can be seen in luxury homes and commercial spaces throughout the New York City tri-state area and beyond.

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Tint Stone

Decorative Finish: Tint Stone
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Tint Stone

Artist: Jason Rosales, Artisan Factor

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Tint Stone

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Prime and plaster – I primed the sample board with a quality bonding primer and applied a trowel coat of Sandstone as a base layer. Once I applied the full coat, I wiped the trowel and went back and “popped” the texture by laying my trowel face down onto the finish and pulling it directly off. Wiping the trowel clean again, I then lightly smoothed out the finish by knocking it down and troweling in random directions – keeping a relatively low, smooth texture.
(Photo 1)

2 | Sand the surface lightly and apply about 90% coverage of random sections in Weathered Granite over the Sandstone and pull tight. You can trowel in random directions in order to smooth out the look of the crushable, colored aggregate in the Weathered Granite. Let dry.
(Photo 2)

3 | Mix Glazing Medium and Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Phthalo Green for a gem green glaze. Add a little bit of Carbon Black to deepen the color. Apply this glaze all over with a brush of your choice – either synthetic or natural bristle.
(Photo 3)

Use a tile sponge or separate brush to then soften out your brush strokes. Natural bristle brushes work well for this.
(Photo 4)

Here is the final finish.
(Photo 5)

Featured Products
Sandstone
A versatile acrylic texture with a sandy, slightly course, uniform aggregate that can be left rough or troweled smooth, depending on the desired finish.
SHOP NOW
Weathered Granite
Ready-to-use, granite-like acrylic material that contains a crushable, colored aggregate in a warm-white base.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW

Jason Rosales

About the Artist
Artisan Factor is a professional cabinet refinishing & decorative finishing company servicing the Central Florida area in the residential, commercial and hospitality fields. With over 15 years of faux and decorative finishing experience. Jason Rosales provides a wide range of looks on cabinetry, millwork, interior/exterior walls, and ceilings using glazes, paints, plaster, texture, wood graining, marbling, gilding, stenciling and embossing. He has a commitment to quality that shows in every step of a project, from his product selection and surface preparation to the final finish results. As a problem solver and a hands-on type, he has helped many find the best solution for their space while staying within budget. Creating a beautiful and stylish environment for his client is a passion and doing so with a commitment to care and an eye for detail only comes naturally.

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Ombre Stencil Fade

Decorative Finish: Ombre Stencil Fade
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Ombre Stencil Fade

Artist: Jason Rosales, Artisan Factor

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Ombre Stencil Fade

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Prime and plaster – prime the surface and let dry. Apply Sandstone in a smooth, random texture with a trowel. Let dry.
(Photo 1)

Lightly sand the Sandstone after fully dry.
(Photo 2)

2 | Apply Soapstone in a random manner, covering over 50% of the sandstone texture. Let dry.
(Photos 3-4)

3 | Apply Sandstone over the Soapstone areas in large, knockdown patches and pull smooth with your trowel, leaving a good amount of Soapstone to show through. Let dry. Here’s a close-up of the texture.
(Photos 5-6)

4 | Mix Sheer Glazing Medium with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics Phthalo Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Carbon Black and a dash of Phthalo Green. Begin by applying the glaze along the bottom third of the surface with a brush, scrubbing and blending upwards, keeping the glaze heavier towards the bottom and feathering it towards the top.
(Photos 7-8)

Use a rag or cloth to clean your brush in order to remove more glaze from the surface as you work your way upward. A dry brush will help feather out the very top. Let dry.
(Photos 9-10)

5 | After the glaze is dry, lay a stencil of your choice (I used the Design Ornament Stencil by Wallovers), over the entire area and secure with tape. Check the level on the stencil to ensure a consistently straight pattern. On a paper plate, I used the tiniest amount of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black into Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Titanium White for an almost white gray color. I added Titanium White as needed to get the desired color.
(Photo 11)

Using a stencil brush, I dipped it into the white mix and off-loaded the excess onto a separate paper plate by swirling the brush in circles. More than one swirl circles will be needed to dry the brush out. You’ll want the brush more dry than wet for the perfect stencil.
(Photo 12)

Take your time and build up the opacity. If the brush is too wet, it can leak under your design. Remove the stencil and let dry. Here’s the final finish.
(Photo 13)

Featured Products
Soapstone
A unique “cousin” of Venetian Plaster that exhibits a subtle movement of color across the surface with little to no sheen.
SHOP NOW
Sandstone
A versatile acrylic texture with a sandy, slightly course, uniform aggregate that can be left rough or troweled smooth, depending on the desired finish.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW

Jason Rosales

About the Artist
Artisan Factor is a professional cabinet refinishing & decorative finishing company servicing the Central Florida area in the residential, commercial and hospitality fields. With over 15 years of faux and decorative finishing experience. Jason Rosales provides a wide range of looks on cabinetry, millwork, interior/exterior walls, and ceilings using glazes, paints, plaster, texture, wood graining, marbling, gilding, stenciling and embossing. He has a commitment to quality that shows in every step of a project, from his product selection and surface preparation to the final finish results. As a problem solver and a hands-on type, he has helped many find the best solution for their space while staying within budget. Creating a beautiful and stylish environment for his client is a passion and doing so with a commitment to care and an eye for detail only comes naturally.

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Melded Crystal

Decorative Finish: Melded Crystal
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Melded Crystal

Artist: Jason Rosales, Artisan Factor

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Melded Crystal

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

NOTE: This finish is excellent for canvas artworks and small focal spaces. It showcases a lot of cool textures that add dimension and interest, and can be any variation of your preferred Golden Paintworks color and texture combinations.

1 | Prime and paint – the primer was tinted slightly with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Phthalo Blue to help with coverage. Two coats of the Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint Reflection were then applied.
(Photo 1)

2 | Mix a bit of Glazing Gel with Slow Drying Fluid Acrylic Dioxazine Purple. Add a few drops of the Carbon Black for a deeper shade. Apply randomly onto your trowel along the flat area and press, rub, pop and smooth out in a random, vertical manner. Let dry. The Glazing Gel will have a smooth, glossy textured look.
(Photo 2)

3 | Mix Sandstone with Dioxazine Purple and Carbon Black and apply with your trowel in the same way, leaving some heavier areas for added interest. Let dry.
(Photo 3)

4 | Mix Glazing Gel with Metallic Paint Tint Base Pearl and apply with trowel and/or brush in order to create a random, vertical waterfall effect. Use a small brush to lightly feather out random areas in a vertical fashion. Hold the brush at a low angle for a lighter touch. Let dry.
(Photo 4)

5 | Mix Glazing Gel with Metallic Paint Tint Base Copper and apply with a trowel (or brush) in the same way, creating depth and texture. This finish is forgiving and creative so dip back into a previous color as needed. Let dry.
(Photo 5)

6 | Mix Glazing Gel with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics Chromium Oxide Green, Burnt Umber and a dash of Carbon Black for a deep, dark green. Apply as little or as much as you like in the same way as before. Let dry.
(Photo 6)

7 | Mix Glazing Gel with Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint Reflection and add a few drops of light yellow tint or colorant for a more turquoise look. Apply and let dry.
(Photo 7)

8 | Mix Glazing Gel and Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Raw Sienna and apply. Let dry. Also, mix Venetian Plaster with Metallic Paint Tint Base Pearl for a brighter white and apply sparingly. Let dry.
(Photo 8)

9 | Apply these previously used colors, letting each one dry in between: Purple Glazing Gel from Step 2 and the Turquoise Glazing Gel from Step 7. Finish off by mixing Glazing Gel with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black and applying tiny hints here and there to accent. Here is the final finish.
(Photo 9)

Featured Products
Metallic Paint Tintable Bases
Interior iridescent acrylic paints that produce strong metallic effects. The four base colors can be used on their own or tinted on-demand.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW
Sandstone
A versatile acrylic texture with a sandy, slightly course, uniform aggregate that can be left rough or troweled smooth, depending on the desired finish.
SHOP NOW
Venetian Plaster
An easy-to-use acrylic plaster. Applied by trowel in thin layers then burnished will produce a highly-polished, marble-like finish.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint
Water based, interior acrylic paints highly pigmented with iridescents to produce strong metallic effects.
SHOP NOW

Jason Rosales

About the Artist
Artisan Factor is a professional cabinet refinishing & decorative finishing company servicing the Central Florida area in the residential, commercial and hospitality fields. With over 15 years of faux and decorative finishing experience. Jason Rosales provides a wide range of looks on cabinetry, millwork, interior/exterior walls, and ceilings using glazes, paints, plaster, texture, wood graining, marbling, gilding, stenciling and embossing. He has a commitment to quality that shows in every step of a project, from his product selection and surface preparation to the final finish results. As a problem solver and a hands-on type, he has helped many find the best solution for their space while staying within budget. Creating a beautiful and stylish environment for his client is a passion and doing so with a commitment to care and an eye for detail only comes naturally.

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Blue Mica Pearl

Decorative Finish: Blue Mica Pearl
Blue Mica Pearl by True Faux Studio
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Blue Mica Pearl

Artist: True Faux Studio

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Blue Mica Pearl

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Base coat with Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue HC147. Let dry completely.
(Photo 1)

2 | Make two color mixes:

Blue Mix: 1:1 Soapstone and Glazing Gel. Add a 1:1 mix of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics Ultramarine Blue and Chromium Oxide Green.
(Photo 2)

Yellow Mix: 1:1 Soapstone and Glazing Gel. Add a very small amount of Theme Paint Transparent Yellow Oxide. Set this color aside for now.
(Photo 3)

3 | Using the blue mix first, sponge on with a damp, wrung out sea sponge, and soften. Make sure not to leave sponge marks. Let dry completely. For the second layer, lightly sponge in the yellow mix at approx. 20%, creating a subtle warm toning over the blue. Let dry.
(Photo 4)

4 | Mix 50% Golden Artist Colors Pearl Mica Flakes (Small) with Metallic Textures Tint Base Pearl and 25% Glazing Gel.Pounce with the material to cover your area. Let dry.
(Photos 5-6)

5 | With the same mix as in Step 3, add a liberal amount of Large Muscovite Flakes and water to make a watery paste. Stir frequently.
(Photo 7)

6 | Pounce again, making sure you are picking up the large flakes. After it dries, repeat.

TIP: After the finish is dry, you can come back with the mix from Step 2 plus a little Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black to deepen the tone, as seen in Photo 8. Use sparingly.

Here is the final finish.
(Photo 8)

Featured Products
Soapstone
A unique “cousin” of Venetian Plaster that exhibits a subtle movement of color across the surface with little to no sheen.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Metallic Texture
With a base color of Gold or Pearl, use on its own or have tinted on-demand. Produces a soft, metallic sparkle with varied sheens.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW
Mural & Theme Paints
An array of clean, intense, lightfast colors with high pigment load, good coverage, and excellent exterior durability.
SHOP NOW

About the Artists
True Faux Studio owners Ginger Andro and Chuck Glicksman are fine artists who’ve studied decorative painting at the School of Visual Arts, Parsons School of Design, and with European masters. True Faux Studio specializes in mural painting and design, faux marble painting, faux wood graining, stencil design, glazing, and gilding for homes and sacred spaces.

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Summer Confection

Decorative Finish: Summer Confection
Summer Confection by Carmen Lomax
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Summer Confection

Artist: Carmen Lomax

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Summer Confection

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix the Venetian Plaster with the desired Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics Magenta coloration you like, keeping in mind that Venetian Plaster dries lighter. I would go just a shade darker than what you think you will need. Then, proceed with two coats of the Magenta Venetian Plaster as a base. Let dry.
(Photos 1-2)

2 | Mix three values of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics into the Glazing Medium in three separate containers. I decided to use two values for the Magenta (a medium and a dark with a bit of Carbon Black) and then a Yellow Oxide coloration.
(Photo 3)

3 | Take a damp cloth and lightly dampen the Venetian Plaster base before starting to blend in your glaze colors, blending with a dabbing motion as well as side to side blending.
(Photos 4-5)

4 | Let dry while you prepare your stencil or template.
(Photo 6)

5 | At this point in the process, a stencil or vinyl could be used, but for sample purposes, I cut my own stencil. I lightly dabbed in the color glazes from Step 2, off loading on a separate towel if the color got too heavy.
(Photo 7)

6 | Once the graphic pattern was finished, I went back over the entire sample with more magenta and yellow glaze just to set the pattern back a bit. Here is the finished texture.
(Photo 8)

Featured Products
Venetian Plaster
An easy-to-use acrylic plaster. Applied by trowel in thin layers then burnished will produce a highly-polished, marble-like finish.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW

About the Artist
Carmen Lomax specializes in creative wall finishes for home decor, children’s rooms and commercial and residential spaces. She works directly with homeowners and business-owners, as well as help develop projects for interior designers, architects, and commercial developers. Design options range from wall finishing and texturing to thematic murals, ceilings and three-dimensional artwork. Absolutely any hand-painted technique can be incorporated, from loose and whimsical to fine art detail and photo-realism.
More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Contemporary Mountainscape

Decorative Finish: Contemporary Mountainscape
Contemporary Mountainscape by Carmen Lomax
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Contemporary Mountainscape

Artist: Carmen Lomax

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Contemporary Mountainscape

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Roll your surface with a neutral off white base coat and let dry. Proceed with one coat layered in with your trowel horizontally with Metallic Texture Tint Base Gold. It will appear uneven in terms of light areas and coverage but the lighter base coat telepathing through will give some nuance to your sections. Let dry.
(Photos 1-2)

2 | Skim coat Soapstone evenly over the Metallic Textures Tint Base Gold horizontally. Let dry.
(Photo 3)

3 | For your next step, you can always use stencil mylar, but here I used some drafting vellum because it is slightly thinner and easier to cut, plus you can sketch on it. Lay out and cut your mountainscapes, noting which sections are slated for the lighter Weathered Granite.
(Photos 4-5)

4 | Expose the first section to be treated. Next, prepare some Glazing Medium with Slow Dy Fluid Acrylic Raw Umber, not too dark, just enough to give some interest to our gold. Blend horizontally. Let dry.
(Photos 6-7)

5 | Cover the areas you just completed once dry, now exposing the areas to be done in Weathered Granite.
(Photo 8)

Here, I used a rubber blade but any spatula would do to trowel on the Weathered Granite.
(Photo 9)

While still wet, follow with a teeth tool and drag through horizontally.
(Photo 10)

Remove the acetate or vellum. Let dry.
(Photo 11)

6 | Using your same Raw Umber glazing solution from Step 4, add drop shadows and blend under each section.
(Photo 12)

And lastly, thinning out your umber solution a little more, add and wipe off with a damp cloth so that a little of that same color gets in the creases on your granite sections, tying everything together. Let dry completely.
(Photo 13)

Here is the finalized texture.
(Photo 14)

OPTION: I’ve also included another colorway in gray, so that you can see the versatility in tones.
(Photo 15)

Featured Products
Metallic Texture
With a base color of Gold or Pearl, use on its own or have tinted on-demand. Produces a soft, metallic sparkle with varied sheens.
SHOP NOW
Weathered Granite
Ready-to-use, granite-like acrylic material that contains a crushable, colored aggregate in a warm-white base.
SHOP NOW
Soapstone
A unique “cousin” of Venetian Plaster that exhibits a subtle movement of color across the surface with little to no sheen.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW

About the Artist
Carmen Lomax specializes in creative wall finishes for home decor, children’s rooms and commercial and residential spaces. She works directly with homeowners and business-owners, as well as help develop projects for interior designers, architects, and commercial developers. Design options range from wall finishing and texturing to thematic murals, ceilings and three-dimensional artwork. Absolutely any hand-painted technique can be incorporated, from loose and whimsical to fine art detail and photo-realism.
More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Wave

Decorative Finish: Wave
Wave by Arteriors
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Wave

Artist: Arteriors

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Wave

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

Introduction: Iridescent blue waves play with light and pattern in this finish made from decorative plasters and metallic paint. This is an advanced finish, but if you love a good challenge that yields beautiful results, give this a try! If you do not know how to trowel, watch the Golden Paintworks tutorials on application methods for Venetian Plaster on their website.

1 | Prime the surface and allow to dry completely. Mix Venetian Plaster to Benjamin Moore Seaside Blue 2054-50, or color of your choice. Venetian Plaster colors can be tinted by your local Golden Paintworks retailer, or simply by tinting your own to taste. Trowel the plaster in a relatively thick layer.
(Photos 1-2)

2 | In up to 2′ x 2′ sections using a rubber wood graining comb, create a pattern by dragging the tool through the wet Venetian Plaster. Be creative and experiment on a separate board with wave shapes. Wipe excess plaster from the tool with a rag as you work. Move to the next section and repeat. Try to keep a wet edge between sections. Let dry.
(Photos 3-4)

3 | Wearing a dust mask, sand lightly with 220 grit sandpaper.
(Photo 5)

4 | Mix Venetian Plaster to Benjamin Moore Caribbean Blue Water 2055-30 or color of choice, and trowel over entire wave surface, filling in all the grooves left from the first combing layer. Scrape the surface with the edge of the trowel to keep the high points of the combed layer showing through the first layer. Let dry.
(Photos 6-7)

5 | Wearing a dust mask sand lightly with 220 grit sandpaper.
(Photo 8)

6 | Mix two parts Glazing Gel with one part Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint Reflection.
(Photo 9)

Paint over the entire surface with a brush.
(Photo 10)

While paint is still wet, scrape the entire surface with the edge of the trowel, wiping it off with a damp rag occasionally, to expose high points of wave pattern. Let dry completely.
(Photo 11)

7 | Wearing a dust mask, sand the surface with 220 grit sandpaper to expose the pattern.
(Photo 12)

If using a power tool, be gentle and do not sand too much at once or too fast. Using a sander with a vacuum attachment such as Festool Dust Extractor with a HEPA filter is the best kind of tool to use. Then sand lightly with 400 grit sand paper, then 600 to smooth and shine the high points. Burnish with a trowel. Wipe off surface. You are finished! 

Here is the finalized texture.
(Photo 13)

Featured Products
Venetian Plaster
An easy-to-use acrylic plaster. Applied by trowel in thin layers then burnished will produce a highly-polished, marble-like finish.
SHOP NOW
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
SHOP NOW
Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint
Water based, interior acrylic paints highly pigmented with iridescents to produce strong metallic effects.
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About the Artists
Amiel and Stephanie Mesner are a husband-and-wife team of fine artists who turned their love and knowledge of the fine and decorative arts into a company with over thirty-five years of experience, creating custom surface designs for the architectural and interior design industry. Arteriors, based in Natick, MA, handles professional design projects from idea and design creation through to finished application in a versatile, detail-oriented, expert manner. Dedicated to using eco-friendly decorative paint and plaster materials that are not only beautiful when applied, but responsible, Arteriors applies water-based paints and lime-based plasters, such as Venetian plasters, and American clay surface finishes which are safe, natural, and sustainable and can improve indoor air quality. 

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Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: One Thousand Flowers

Decorative Finish: One Thousand Flowers
One Thousand Flowers by Arteriors
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

One Thousand Flowers

Artist: Arteriors

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

One Thousand Flowers

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

Introduction: This pattern was inspired by the design technique of Mille Fleur, seen in many European tapestries made during the Renaissance. It’s also a finish that reflects the exquisite beauty of plant-life and the eco-system that it supports. The horizontally combed glass beads add a sparkly “gilded-lily” affect. One Thousand Flowers pattern stencil was designed by us specifically for this Golden Paintworks finish.

1 | Prep, prime, and apply a solid coat of Benjamin Moore Sweet Pea 2031-30 in a matte sheen. Allow to dry completely.
(Photo 1)

2 | Mix one part Glazing Medium with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics Chromium Oxide Green, Carbon Black, and a bit of Burnt Umber to match Benjamin Moore Hunter Green, #2041-10. Add a little water and mix so that it is the consistency of whole milk.
(Photo 2)

3 | Dip a damp, but not dripping, sea sponge into the dark green and tap onto the light green base coat in large shapes, covering only about 1/3 of the area.
(Photo 3)

4 | Mix another container of Glazing Medium with enough water to make a half and half cream consistency. With a large 3″ brush, swish over the sponged areas with the Glazing Medium to soften and blend the dark green glaze.
(Photo 4)

Allow to dry completely, and repeat step 2 two or three times more. Allow to dry completely.
(Photo 5)

5 | Water down the Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint Vintage Brass a little so that it is the same consistency as half and half cream. (Photo 6)

Apply it over the dark green finish in haphazard strokes with a large 3″ brush, covering about 1/3 of the area.
(Photo 7)

Tap gently with a clean damp sponge over the bronze brushstrokes. Allow to dry slightly, but not completely. Use a blow dryer to speed the partial drying process. With a damp sponge or damp cotton rag, gently wipe across the grain of the brushstrokes to remove some of the bronze paint, leaving an organically distressed appearance.
(Photo 8)

Rub harder depending on how dry the metallic paint has become. Allow to dry completely, approximately 24 hours.
(Photo 9)

6 | Apply your preferred floral stencil. The one we are using is a low-tack adhesive stencil. If using a mylar stencil, secure it with low-tack painter’s tape. Using a piece of upholstery foam with a flat section or a stencil brush, tap the Benjamin Moore Sweet Pea 2031-30 over the entire stencil as a base. Tap the brush or foam on a rag after loading with paint so that the application is fairly dry. Keep pouncing the light green over the stencil so that everything has had at least one layer. Leave this application to be un-even so that the over-all look will have a dappled-light affect. Allow to dry completely.
(Photo 10)

7 | Make the second stencil color by mixing one part Clear Top Coat Dead Flat with one part Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Yellow Oxide. Make the third stencil color by mixing the same ratio Clear Top Coat Dead Flat and Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Chromium Oxide Green.
(Photo 11)

8 | Stencil over everything with both colors, blending one color into the other to create a multi-layered, natural appearance.
(Photo 12)

If using a mylar stencil, remove the stencil immediately and let dry. If using a low-tack stencil, allow to dry completely for 24 hours, and then peel off the stencil to reveal the artwork.
(Photo 13)

9 | Mix eight parts Glass Bead Gel XL with one part water.
(Photo 14)

With a metal or plastic trowel, apply an even, flat coat over the entire surface.
(Photo 15)

With a notched rubber squeegee or a combing tool, apply pressure and drag horizontally across the surface, wiggling the tool as much as you desire. With a small rubber spatula, scrape the comb into a container to be re-used. Scoop up excess glass bead gel at the end of your drag, being careful not to bump into the finished drag section. Place the end of your tool to overlap 1″ of the previous section and drag next section. Repeat until wavy lines are done.
(Photo 16)

10 | Using a rubber subtractive tool, or the end of an artist paint brush covered in a damp rag, drag through any sections that are filled in solid. Allow to dry completely, approximately 10 hours.
(Photo 17)

Here is the final texture.
(Photo 18)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Clean up the Glass Bead Gel tools with soap and water in a separate bucket. Strain through a sieve or put clean-up water in a lidded container to throw out. Do not pour down the sink!

Featured Products
Glazing Mediums
Translucent acrylic glazing mediums for wood graining, marbling, aging and toning any painted surface. Can also be tinted with universal colorants.
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Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
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Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint
Water based, interior acrylic paints highly pigmented with iridescents to produce strong metallic effects.
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Clear Topcoat
A non-yellowing protective topcoat with great clarity and multiple sheens to choose from. Water resistant, abrasion resistant and applies easily.
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Glass Bead Gel
A decorative gel medium that dries clear and contains a high concentration of clear glass beads. Any color underneath shows through, while the glass beads reflect sparkling light.
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About the Artists
Amiel and Stephanie Mesner are a husband-and-wife team of fine artists who turned their love and knowledge of the fine and decorative arts into a company with over thirty-five years of experience, creating custom surface designs for the architectural and interior design industry. Arteriors, based in Natick, MA, handles professional design projects from idea and design creation through to finished application in a versatile, detail-oriented, expert manner. Dedicated to using eco-friendly decorative paint and plaster materials that are not only beautiful when applied, but responsible, Arteriors applies water-based paints and lime-based plasters, such as Venetian plasters, and American clay surface finishes which are safe, natural, and sustainable and can improve indoor air quality. 

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.