"The word faux actually means false, and refers to the technique of making one material look like another. For example, a fiberglass column made to look like it was made of Marble, or a plain sheet rock wall made to look like stucco. In the broader concept, regarding decorative painting, it refers to creating artistic finishes for surfaces that mimic many things like wood, leather, stone, and more. The creation of faux finishes has evolved to include not only paint or colorant and glazes, but also includes many fine European plasters," Mark says.
Faux finishes can be done by novices. When it comes to using a sponge to create new designs, even an amateur can tackle the job. However, when it comes to creating textures like granite, tortoise, or wood finishes, an expert may be better able to complete the task.
A good faux finish starts with a good, solid-color base foundation. This helps build the texture. Water-based or oil-based paints can be used, but not together. Water-based paints dry faster, and the clean-up is simple, making it ideal for the beginner. Oil-based paints take longer to dry. This is useful for more complex techniques such as combing and glazing and is often the choice of professional wall artists. But the final effect is most important, whether one wants a transparent illusion (oil-based) or a powdery one as in Pompeian frescos (latex).
Sponging is considered the simplest technique. It can help cover all kinds of blemishes on your walls. After the solid color base coat dries, a second, and even third and fourth color is applied by hand: a piece of sponge is dabbed into paint and applied randomly to the wall.
A good tip is to slightly twist the wrist as you apply. This keeps the paint from looking too uniform. A natural sea sponge, rather than cellulose, is recommended. Sponges are fairly cheap and you can find them at your local home improvement store.
For more information on faux finishing or painting you can always buy a book with step by step instructions. However, Mark suggests not taking the project on yourself if you are not the artistic type. This kind of work also takes plenty of patience. So take your time, and bring your walls to life.
