Illusions by Sherwin-Williams.
The art of turning a plain wall into a personal masterpiece.
Faux finishing has been around for thousands of years and it'll remain popular for years
to come because it lets anyone create beautiful illusions in any room of the house.
This program will show you four basic faux finishing techniques so you can achieve hundreds
of great looks with a little paint and glaze, a few simple tools and some basic know-how.
It's easy, it's fast and it's fun, so let's get started.
Mask woodwork, cover floors and counters with drop cloths and have these basic tools handy.
Brushes, paint tray and liners, rollers, clean up rags, stir sticks, low-tech painter's tape,
a plastic bucket for mixing glaze and paint together and a measuring cup.
A project checklist is included in each of the Illusions Paint Effects how-to brochures.
In addition, you'll need glazing liquid and tinted super paint satin.
Generally one gallon of glazing liquid and a quart of each color selected will complete
a standard 10 by 10 room.
For all of the techniques you're about to see, make sure the surface you plan to paint
is clean, dull and dry.
Patch and sand nail holes.
It is essential to then prime these areas with PrepBright Classic Latex Primer and apply
a base coat of Sherwin-Williams Super Paint Satin in the selected base color.
This is the first step in any faux finish.
The Illusions looks are presented in popular decorating styles including the comfortable
casual feel of Americana, the clean neutral earth tones of natural reaction, European
grandeur with its rich antique elegance, sleek contemporary for simple sophisticated effects
and touch of whimsy when the mood is fresh, light and playful.
Any one of these beautiful Illusions can be achieved using one of the four basic faux
techniques like sponging, combing, ragging and color washing.
For simplicity, we'll show just a few color combinations to demonstrate the basic techniques
but in addition to our Illusions color card, you can create an unlimited number of color
combinations by referring to our color answers display.
It's also a good idea to do a practice board before you start on a wall so you have an
idea of how the colors will look together and if you like the effect.
When you're comfortable with the basic technique, you're ready to begin.
No matter what effect you choose, plan on doing opposite walls first.
Tape the inside corners adjacent to the two walls you'll begin on so that as you paint
in the corners, you don't overlap onto the adjacent walls.
When the last glaze coat is completely dry on the first two walls, peel off the tape
and re-mask so you can complete the two remaining walls.
Now we're ready for our first technique, sponging.
The colors here are from our touch of whimsy collection featuring light, playful tones
and imaginative effects.
You'll be amazed at how many natural materials like granite or sand can be simulated using
a simple sea sponge.
You could even bring the look of fluffy white clouds indoors.
In addition to the basics, you'll need a natural sea sponge cut in half to create a flat surface.
Then quarter one of those halves and keep these smaller pieces for corners and tight
spots.
Mix one part super paint to five parts glazing liquid and stir well.
Dampen the sponge, squeeze out excess water and dip the flat surface of the sponge into
the glaze.
Put any excess glaze onto a stack of paper towels and start pressing the sponge gently
against the base coat.
Repeat the motion, rotating your hands slightly with each impression so the marks overlap
and the pattern looks random.
Smaller pieces may be used in corners and along molding edges.
When the first coat is finished and dry, additional glaze colors can be added to enhance the effect.
This is really a very easy technique that lends itself to some complex looks like this
striped pattern.
Start with a dry base coat of Sherwin-Williams Super Paint Satin in the selected color, then
using a carpenter's level, a pencil and low tack masking tape, mark the striped pattern.
Use a sponge section to make soft light impressions until you've achieved the right depth of color.
When you're finished, remove the tape to reveal the fresh bright look of colorful stripes.
Our next technique is called combing.
We've selected a color scheme from our natural reaction collection featuring soft earthy
colors.
Combing is really a way of dragging away the glaze coat to reveal a colored base coat.
The results range from textures like burlap, stria and dungaree to more elaborate effects
like gingham or beadboard.
The illusion system offers many different combing tools to create a variety of stunning
effects, tools from symphony such as a triangular rubber comb, a fine steel comb for dungaree
and canvas looks, combing tools for ginghams, beadboard or burlap, and a wallpaper smoothing
brush for standard combing and stria.
You'll also want a level for marking very light guidelines, and for this technique you'll
use a wallpaper smoothing brush.
For the glaze coat, mix one part super paint tinted in the color of your choice and five
parts latex glazing liquid.
With a quarter inch nap roller, roll on two widths at a time, then drag your brush through
the wet glaze.
Try to maintain even pressure and wipe the brush after each stroke so the glaze doesn't
build up and drip into your pattern.
The stripes or lines won't be perfect, but they should be reasonably straight.
That's all there is to it.
It's simple and the results are spectacular.
This basic technique also lends itself to some wonderful variations, including this
dramatic gingham effect.
To create the look of gingham, apply a very thin coat of tinted glaze and using the gingham
combing tool, immediately begin combing vertically through the wet glaze, wiping the comb after
each pass.
Then follow with the horizontal strokes to complete the pattern.
It's easy, dramatic, and your color selection is virtually unlimited.
The third technique is ragging.
The Illusions European Grandeur Collection inspired the rich deep red tones you see here.
The random pattern, created by pressing a soft cotton rag across the entire surface
of the wall, lets you make an elegant impression.
For this technique, you'll need a pair of disposable latex gloves and some cotton rags,
about 20 inch square.
Next, mix one part super paint satin, or in this case, color accents, tinted in the color
of your choice with five parts latex glazing liquid and stir well.
Then pull on your gloves.
Dampen your rag in water and wring it out.
Then submerge the rag completely in the tinted glaze and milk out the excess.
Holding the rag by one corner, gather up the rest of the cloth with the other hand so that
it forms a loose cabbage rose.
Pressing the wadded rag against the wall lightly, work across the wall a few square feet at
a time.
Re-crumple the rag as needed to achieve a variety of textures.
As the rag starts to dry out, dip it again and start in the middle of the next wall section,
working toward the outside so that the overall effect is as seamless as possible.
Depending upon the look you want, another color of glaze can be ragged on after the
first coat is dry.
If some areas look blotchy, allow them to dry, then just dip a clean damp rag in the
original base coat color and repair the wall using the same technique.
The results will turn four ordinary walls into one extraordinary new room.
A simple twist on this basic technique gives you a slightly different look.
For negative ragging, start with a dry base coat, then roll on a thin coat of tinted glaze
two roller widths wide.
While the glaze is still wet, press a dry or only slightly damp clean rag against the
wall, leaving a pattern where the fresh glaze pulls away.
This technique is best done in three by three sections, working quickly to maintain a wet
edge and avoid overlap marks.
We also recommend using rags of consistent texture to create a uniform pattern.
For our final technique, we'll be using a color wash to demonstrate the fresco look
from our European Grandeur collection, which gives walls the old world look of antique
plaster.
If this color palette doesn't suit the look you want, select three colors from the same
color answers paint strip using the darkest color for your base.
When the base coat is dry, prepare the first glaze coat by mixing one part super paint
tinted in the middle tone of the color selected to four parts glazing liquid.
Using a four inch flat brush, make sweeping arcs on the wall.
Work on a square yard at a time and wipe the brush to remove excess glaze.
The brush marks give this technique its dramatic effect, so don't hesitate to make bold strokes
and let your strokes overlap each other.
When the first coat of glaze is dry, you're ready for the top glaze coat.
This should be the lightest of the three colors selected and is mixed one part super paint
to 15 parts glazing liquid.
Apply this coat the same way as the first, using arcing motions across the entire surface.
When you're finished, step back and admire the transformation.
The number of looks you can achieve starting with these four basic techniques is virtually
unlimited.
Thanks to illusions by Sherwin Williams, it's never been easier.
With our unique how-to brochures and all the tools, paint products, and knowledge you need,
we can help make any faux finishing project a success.
And thanks to our designer color collections, including Americana, Natural Reaction, European
Grandeur, Sleek Contemporary, and Touch of Whimsy, you can select established color schemes
or use them to inspire a customized palette.
Whatever the style, whatever the mood, a Sherwin Williams faux finish creates beautiful illusions.
Thanks for watching.
See you next time.