Read tips on decorative wall painting
techniques and decorative stencil wall painting.
Decorative Wall Painting Technique
Using stencils to trace beautiful paintings to adorn
walls of houses dates back to the Egyptian civilization. Through out
history there are various references to the use of decorative stencil
patterns used to embellish walls of palaces and of the local people. It
is also a folk art that has been used by the common man for generations.
Stenciling involves repeating a simple pattern or using complex patterns
in various colors either to tell a story or to decorate walls and
furniture. You can use this type of decorative painting to adorn the
walls of your house too. Just follow the instructions given below.
- Prepare wall by removing nails and repairing cracks. Use primer if needed.
- Use painter's tape-to-tape edges, window and doorframes.
- Remove all light fixtures and cover all furniture with old sheets.
- Choose a base color that is neutral like eggshell and apply it evenly.
- Use clear acetate and oiled stencil cards to cut out stencils in patterns you like. For acetate use a rapidgraph to trace the image. For oiled stencil paper use carbon paper and a sharp pencil to trace image.
- Use a sharp knife or blade to make clean cuts in the stencil.
- Use stencil brushes for fine and complicated designs and for patterns that are from folk art it is better to use a sponge. It can be natural marine or synthetic.
- Artistic acrylic paints are best for stenciling, it can be easily applied and dries rapidly. Oil paints can also be used but this takes longer to dry. Household latex paint can be used though it is a little thick for intricate stencil patterns.
- For durability apply a final coat of protective varnish.
- Place all the colors you are using on a palette. Take a dry brush and dab some paint on it, remove excess paint from brush by shaking it on to newspaper.
- Attach stencil pattern to wall by either spraying a layer of adhesive onto the back of the pattern or by sticking it in place using tape.
- Now begin painting from the center outward to prevent bleeding of color. You can use more than one color for a pattern.
- For stencils on walls and furniture apply a last coat of clear protective varnish to ensure that it is durable over time.
- Clean with warm soapy water.