What is colorwash? Faux finishing colorwash explained. Our expert, Lu Goodwin Mark, owner and director of Austin School of Faux Finishes at Design Center of Austin, says the colorwash process takes some...
Our expert, Lu Goodwin Mark, owner and director of Austin School of Faux Finishes at Design Center of Austin, says the colorwash process takes some skill.
"Colorwash is a tinted glaze that is applied in a thin wash over a painted or a textured wall. Colorwash is also used in combination with many other techniques to create sophisticated and complex layered color effects, but can also be used alone for soft drifts of color. The difficulty in Color washing is maintaining consistency. This is achieved with good materials like modern glaze formulas and with practice," Mark says.
To colorwash you will need the following items as listed on HGTV.com, a home improvement website: white athletic socks, blue painter's tape, paint, paint tray with liner
long level, pencil, and acrylic craft paint.
When applying a colorwash use a level and light pencil to mark the spot you wish to add color to, and then tape-off the area outside the box. After that you want to dilute a tiny amount of paint with water. The standard measure is two cups of paint to 1/2 cup water. Stir this in a paint tray until completely combined. Dip the tip of the sock into the paint. Make sure and remove the excess paint that stays behind. Use circular motions to fill in the taped-off area, creating soft swirls of lighter and darker color. These variances are what gives the washing technique so much character. If desired, add to the technique in places that seem too light to make the overall appearance as even or as mottled as you like. Remove the tape, and then outline the box using a small brush and coordinating acrylic craft paint.
With the colorwash technique you can create all kinds of designs. One that is popular is the cloud look. To achieve this make sure your existing base color is either eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss enamel. You will need a paintbrush, roller, and rag. Start off at the top corner of a wall in 3x3 sections.
Mark says colorwashing can make a simple wall look unique. It will also give the appearance that you spent a lot of money on the paint job. Don't attempt this process if this kind of project doesn't interest you. The reason behind this is you may not end up colorwashing all your walls in the end. Then, you have unfinished walls that look out of place. Colorwashing is for all, the novice and the professional.
