Decorative Finish: Croc

Decorative Finish: Croc
"Croc" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Croc

Artist: Tobey Renee Sanders

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Croc

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Roll on basecoat color, 1599 Marina Gray by Benjamin Moore. Let dry.
(Photo 1)

2 | Create Venetian Plaster mixes for the croc texture:

  • First Mix: Venetian Plaster mixed with Titanium White Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic, and
  • Second Mix: Venetian Plaster mixed with Carbon Black Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic.

(Photo 2)

3 | Spray Crocodile pattern stencil with stencil adhesive on back. Let dry for 20 minutes.

4 | Place stencil on surface. Double load plaster trowel with both Venetian Plaster mixes. Trowel both colors overs the crocodile pattern stencil and blend colors together. Remove stencil carefully and let the surface dry.
(Photo 3)

5 | Prepare toning layers for Croc finish:

  • First Mix: Soapstone mixed with Carbon Black Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic, and
  • Second Mix: Metallic Texture Pearl Tint Base with Titanium White Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic.

(Photo 4)

6 | Load trowel with both toning colors and trowel on a skim coat over the croc texture. Blend colors softly until you are happy with the balance. Let dry.
(Photo 5)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 6)

Featured Products
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
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
Soapstone
A unique “cousin” of Venetian Plaster that exhibits a subtle movement of color across the surface with little to no sheen.
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

About the Artist
Tobey Renee Sanders is an accomplished Decorative Artist, Design expert and Tv personality born and raised in Atlanta, GA. Tobey Renee has more than 20 years of experience in Interior Design & Decorative Arts and is widely recognized for her custom faux finish techniques and stunning line of contemporary art. In 2003, She launched FauxDécor Design Studio, a super talented decorative painting company, providing residential spaces, commercial property and celebrity clients with uniquely designed and custom faux finishes. Tobey Renee specializes in rich high-end Plasters, such as Glassello and Marmorino. She is mostly known for her popular GlamRock Mica Finishes and Diamond Glass technique, that adorns the walls of Hollywood’s hottest A list celebrity homes. Her client list includes design firms and developers in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC, as well as entertainers and athletes across the nation. She has also been featured on HGTV’s Smart Home, Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and Vh1’s K Michelle’s: My Life. Her faux finished rooms have been showcased in numerous publications such as, People Magazine, Black Enterprise and The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

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Decorative Finish: Wisteria

Decorative Finish: Wisteria
"Wisteria" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Wisteria

Artist: Robin Belisle

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Wisteria

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

NOTE: All mixed colors below will reference a Benjamin Moore paint color where needed to guide you while you are mixing your colors. They are for reference only unless it is a base coat.

1 | Basecoat in Benjamin Moore 1436 Whirlpool and let dry.

2 | Mix a batch of Metallic Texture Pearl Base and Soapstone in a 1:1 ratio, approximately ½ cup each. Separate into two containers and set aside for the two separate color mixes below.

3 | Mix two color batches with the custom Metallic Texture Pearl Base and Soapstone mix:

  • One batch to match Benjamin Moore 1614 Delray Gray by using the custom Metallic Texture and Soapstone mix with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics in Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Van Dyke Brown Hue, Raw Sienna, a very small amount of Carbon Black, and Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint in Silver
  • Second batch to match Benjamin Moore 1453 Pebble Creek using the custom Metallic Texture and Soapstone mix with Dioxazine Purple, Raw Umber, and a small amount of Carbon Black, Titanium White, and Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)

4 | Use a whizz roller to roll on the Delray Gray mix in an even coat and prepare to use the Burlap Tool. When the product is on evenly and consistent, use the burlap tool to drag evenly vertically. If needed, repeat again. Let dry.
(Photos 1-3)

5 | Repeat the above process with the Pebble Creek mix and this time drag it horizontally. Let dry.
(Photo 4)

6 | Prepare the double sided tape and gold leaf. Mark off the area to be gold leafed and run the double sided sticky tape between markings. (Do not cross over lines before you add the gold leaf. Add the gold leaf on the first line, then run the opposite line.
(Photos 5-6)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 7)

Featured Products
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
SHOP NOW
Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint
Water based, interior acrylic paints highly pigmented with iridescents to produce strong metallic effects.
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
Soapstone
A unique “cousin” of Venetian Plaster that exhibits a subtle movement of color across the surface with little to no sheen.
SHOP NOW

About the Artist
Robin Belisle, owner and Decorative Artist at Faux Couture, is a self taught artist who began her decorative painting career in 1998 after an extraordinary encounter with a faux finishing class. From there, she made a pointed decision to become the best decorative painter she could be and searched out award winning designers and builders to work with. She has traveled to Italy, Paris, many times to Morocco and all over the world leaving her mark on homes and hotels in need of artistic interpretation. This in turn has helped her hone her craft and create many signature finishes based on her travels. She has been featured in magazine articles, trade shows and the local news as trends to watch. She began teaching in her own studio and then taught many classes across the US. She joined the Board of Directors for the International Decorative Artisans league (IDAL) as education chair. As that chapter drew to a close, she knew she would eventually be teaching more. She has since joined other instructors on THE PAINT HIVE teaching online decorative painting classes.

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

Decorative Finish: Alhambra

Decorative Finish: Alhambra
"Alhambra" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Alhambra

Artist: Robin Belisle

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Alhambra

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

NOTE: All mixed colors will reference a Benjamin Moore paint color where needed to guide you while you are mixing your colors. They are for reference only unless it is actually a basecoat.

1 | Basecoat in Benjamin Moore HC-40 Greenfield Pumpkin and let dry. Once dry, roll the Golden Paintworks Roman Gold in a smooth even layer and let dry.
(Photo 1)

2 | Spray the back side of the Wallovers Medina Stencil with a stencil adhesive and let it tack up. While it is tacking up, mix Golden Paintworks Soapstone with Dioxazine Purple, Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and Titanitum White Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. You are using Benjamin Moore 1418 Oriental Iris as your color guide.
(Photo 2)

3 | Attach the stencil to your surface and using the bondo scraper, trowel over the entire surface with the custom Soapstone mix, making sure not to bleed through the lines. Try to create a consistent, even layer.
(Photo 3)

4 | Pull the stencil off carefully and soak in hot water. Let the surface dry completely and clean the stencil. You will use it again.
(Photo 4)

At this point, I really, really loved the sample as is. It has a beautiful, clean and very modern tiled look. It can always be left at this point, but I wanted a lot of color. So if you are in for the higher road, continue on.

5 | Mix the following colors with Golden Paintworks Glazing Medium and Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics using your Benjamin Moore paint deck for reference:
▪ BM1420 Softened Violet: Dioxazine Purple, Titanium White, and Raw Umber
▪ BM1392 Fire and Ice: Dioxazine Purple, Van Dyke Brown Hue, Raw Sienna, and a small amount of Carbon Black
▪ BM1421 Bistro Blue: Dioxazine Purple, Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), and Titanium White
▪ BM1385 Cupid’s Dart: Titanium White, Raw Sienna, and a small amount Dioxazine Purple
▪ BM1377 Caribbean Sunset: Titanium White, Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and a small amount Dioxazine Purple
▪ BM1472 Silver Chain: Titanium White and a small amount of Carbon Black and custom Bistro Blue mix.
(Photo 5)

6 | Spray the back side of the Wallovers Medina Stencil with a stencil adhesive and let it tack up. After tacking up, carefully lay back over the raised design exactly as it was before.
(Photo 6)

7 | Stencil your tinted Glazing Medium colors, making sure your colors are somewhat transparent, as it will give a more glazed tile look. Color in the entire pattern and let dry. Use the attached color map for reference to color placement.
(Photo 7)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 8)

Featured Products
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
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
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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About the Artist
Robin Belisle, owner and Decorative Artist at Faux Couture, is a self taught artist who began her decorative painting career in 1998 after an extraordinary encounter with a faux finishing class. From there, she made a pointed decision to become the best decorative painter she could be and searched out award winning designers and builders to work with. She has traveled to Italy, Paris, many times to Morocco and all over the world leaving her mark on homes and hotels in need of artistic interpretation. This in turn has helped her hone her craft and create many signature finishes based on her travels. She has been featured in magazine articles, trade shows and the local news as trends to watch. She began teaching in her own studio and then taught many classes across the US. She joined the Board of Directors for the International Decorative Artisans league (IDAL) as education chair. As that chapter drew to a close, she knew she would eventually be teaching more. She has since joined other instructors on THE PAINT HIVE teaching online decorative painting classes.

More from this artist

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

Decorative Finish: Soapstone Tile

Decorative Finish: Soapstone Tile
"Soapstone Tile" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Soapstone Tile

Artist: Jess Kollar

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Soapstone Tile

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Red Oxide, Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Magenta, and Burnt Umber Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics into the Soapstone until desired color is achieved. I used a custom pink coloration. The tinted Soapstone will dry a few shades darker. Trowel a thin layer across surface. Let dry.
(Photo 1)

2 | Trowel a second layer across surface. Let dry.

3 | Cut your desired tile stencil shape in a clear mylar sheet. Apply stencil glue to one side and let dry a few minutes. Lay your stencil, glue side down in the center of your area. Press firmly.
(Photo 2)

4 | Trowel untinted Soapstone across the stencil opening.
(Photo 3)

5 | Lift off stencil carefully and let dry.
(Photo 4)

6 | Tint more Soapstone with a little Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and a hint of Carbon Black. In another container, take half of this new mixture and mix equal parts with your original custom pink Soapstone color. You can create more custom colors by mixing the new and original Soapstone colors together and creating new complementary ones. The swatches show the original pink, the new mixture and then the 2 mixed together. The fourth color swatch mixture is also used on the stencil.
(Photo 5)

7 | Place stencil down next to the area you completed. Trowel Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and Carbon Black mixture on the stencil. Remove stencil gently.
(Photo 6)

8 | Stencil the other areas with the other mixed colors as well as the untinted Soapstone. You can also use the original pink color in your design for the third layer. I added untinted Soapstone to make it lighter. Let dry.
(Photo 7)

9 | Mix one part Burnt Umber Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics to 4 parts Glazing Medium. Brush along the edges on the “tiles” randomly.
(Photo 8)

10 | Wipe excess away with a cloth. Let dry.
(Photo 9)

11 | Using a fine artist brush, highlight the edges of the tiles with the Burnt Umber tinted Glazing Medium.
(Photo 10)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 11)

Featured Products
Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics
Water based acrylics, formulated with extended open time for faux and decorative painting techniques. Excellent for tinting glazes.
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

About the Artist
Jess Kollar specializes in decorative painting and plaster techniques. Her love for mural painting first brought her into the industry, and her passion grew with each job she completed. Jess’s business, Jess Artistic Designs, is based in Charleston, South Carolina. Learn more about Jess’s work at jessartisticdesigns.com.

More from this artist

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

Decorative Finish: Concrete Tropical Leaves

Decorative Finish: Concrete Tropical Leaves
"Concrete Tropical Leaves" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Concrete Tropical Leaves

Artist: Jess Kollar

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Concrete Tropical Leaves

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Carbon Black Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic into the Sandstone until desired color is achieved. I used a light gray. Using this mix, trowel a thin, smooth coat and let dry. Trowel a second thin, smooth coat over the first and let dry.
(Photo 1)

2 | Draw on your preferred leaf design with a pencil.
(Photo 2)

3 | Tint your preferred amount of Soapstone with a few drops of Burnt Umber Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. In another container, tint Soapstone with a few drops of Raw Sienna Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. With artist brushes, paint your leaf designs using one color per leaf. Let dry.
(Photo 3)

4 | Using a liner brush and gray latex paint, highlight the veins and outlines of the leaves. (Photo 4)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 5)

Featured Products
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
Soapstone
A unique “cousin” of Venetian Plaster that exhibits a subtle movement of color across the surface with little to no sheen.
SHOP NOW

About the Artist
Jess Kollar specializes in decorative painting and plaster techniques. Her love for mural painting first brought her into the industry, and her passion grew with each job she completed. Jess’s business, Jess Artistic Designs, is based in Charleston, South Carolina. Learn more about Jess’s work at jessartisticdesigns.com.

More from this artist

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

Decorative Finish: Arctic Ice

Decorative Finish: Arctic Ice
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Arctic Ice

Artist: Tim Glastetter

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Arctic Ice

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Roll surface with Benjamin Moore Light Pewter and let dry. Mix 1 part Weathered Granite with 3 parts Sandstone. Tint with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Ultramarine Blue and a drop of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black (just enough to dirty it up). Apply to area using using a skip trowel technique. This base texture technique will transfer through to the finish layers.
(Photos 1 – 3)

2 | Burnish with same 7″ trowel. Not much time is required for this step – it’s super quick and just a light skip over this texture will produce a heavy burnish. A lighter burnish can be produced, if preferred.
(Photo 4)

3 | Tint Soapstone with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Titanium White and just a drop of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Raw Umber. Apply over Weathered Granite/Sandstone texture, covering 90 – 100%. Do not pull tight, some texture is okay.
(Photo 5)

4 | Apply second layer of Soapstone (same mix as in previous step). This time cover 100% and pull material tight.
(Photo 6)

5 | Apply a clear wax of choice – I used Briwax (clear), buffed to a desired sheen.
(Photo 7)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 8)

Featured Products
Weathered Granite
Ready-to-use, granite-like acrylic material that contains a crushable, colored aggregate in a warm-white base.
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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
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

Tim Glastetter

About the Artist
Tim Glastetter is a native of the St. Louis area. His lifelong passion and innovative use of painting techniques began in childhood. Tim transforms a client’s perspective of paint from a simple medium into a critical design component. This passion and vision forged the pathway for his professional career as a decorative painter. He pursued arts throughout his college education and continues to hone and innovate his craft through class and trade show participation. He is an active member of the International Decorative Artists League (IDAL) and Metro Artisans Guild (MAG). Functionality, adaptive reuse, and nature are central to Tim’s contemporary vision. Designers, contractors, architects, and homeowners seek his counsel on innovative design. Tim’s studio, RiverHouse, was originally a condemned property along the scenic bluffs of the Bourbeouse River, located nearly 45 mins west of St Louis. His resourceful and inventive use of paint during the remodeling process of the RiverHouse has been featured in multiple magazines and newspapers. More information about Tim and his Riverhouse Project can be found on his website, Tim Glastetter.

More from this artist

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

Decorative Finish: Gradient Waves

Decorative Finish: Gradient Waves
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Gradient Waves

Artist: Michelle Kole Decorative Services

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Gradient Waves

Downloadable PDF
HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Prime the wall with a 100% acrylic primer, such as Benjamin Moore Frest Start.

2 | Divide Soapstone into three containers. I started with Farrow & Ball Hague Blue as the inspiration for the darkest shade of my wall. Slowly mix Hague Blue paint into one of the buckets for your darkest color. Do the same for the next two containers, slowly adding some Hague Blue and then Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Titanium White until you have two shades that will make a good gradient. I make more of the light and medium shades because I want most of the wall to be these lighter shades. Use a sample board or a small area on the bottom of the wall to test colors and work on getting the right level of translucency.
(Photo 1)

3 | Apply product to the top edge of your trowel and pull the lightest color horizontally across the wall. Hold the trowel at about a 45 degree angle as you alternate long strokes and short strokes.
(Photo 2)

Experiment with how much plaster you put on your trowel. See what works for you. The strokes can be loose and imperfect. Clean your trowel often with the spatula and wipe occasionally with a wet cloth to avoid scratches and drags. Soften any scratches or undesirable spots with a chip brush.
(Photo 3)

4 | Continuing with horizontal strokes, apply the medium shade to the middle section of the wall and the darkest shade across the bottom. Allow to dry.
(Photos 4-5)

5 | For your next coat, you do not have to cover the entire wall. Leave the top of the wall with one coat if you like, allowing the white to show through the first layer. Blend the sections by layering one color over another, building up translucent layers.
(Photo 6)

Vary your strokes. Step back often to check your work and continue to build up layers and blend the wall into a subtle gradient. Soften any scratches (or any area you find distracting) with a chip brush.
(Photo 7)

Here’s the finished texture.
(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
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: 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: Urban Vibe

Decorative Finish: Urban Vibe
Urban Vibe decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Urban Vibe

Artist: Art Deco Unique

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

Urban Vibe

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HOW-TO

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Prime the surface with an appropriate, high-quality, water-based primer with the low nap roller and allow to fully dry. Then, tear 2-3 pages from the catalog or magazine and rip them in different sizes and shapes, whatever sparks your creativity.
(Photo 1)

2 | Use a small amount of the multi-purpose glue on the back of the ripped paper and then apply the paper on the surface.
(Photo 2)

3 | With a plastic knife or plastic spatula press gently on the glued paper to avoid the air bubbles and to make sure the paper is glued entirely.
(Photos 3-4)

4 | Mix one cup Soapstone with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics:
– Approx. ½ teaspoon Titanium White
– Approx. ½ teaspoon Raw Sienna
(Photo 5)

5 | Using the Medium Plaster Trowel, apply the mixture on the surface, slightly avoiding the paper. Let dry completely.
(Photos 6-7)

6 | Mix one cup Soapstone with:
– Approx. ½ teaspoon Pre-Mixed Metallic Paint Moody
(Photo 8)

7 | Apply an even, thin layer of the mixture on the whole surface area using the Medium Plaster Trowel. Avoid the paper parts. Let dry completely and then apply a second layer.
(Photos 9-10)

Note: Apply very thin layers.

8 | Sand with light circular movements on the surface until it becomes smooth. Do not sand on the paper.
(Photo 11)

9 | Apply Clear Topcoat Dead Flat with a soft brush or a roll. Let dry completely.
(Photo 12)

Here is the final texture.
(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.
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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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Art Deco Unique

About the Artists
Elena and Rodica are two prosperous and hardworking individuals united by a common interest and artistry. E & R Wall Art by Art Deco Unique are open to travel and collaboration with designers, contractors, businesses, and homeowners. Based in New York with an Eastern European background, they learned to thrive open-minded and border-less. Each wall art commission consistently requires individual touch and specific combination of technics. Elena graduated as a Fashion Designer in 2010, and Rodica graduated as a Mural Artist in Design and Decorative in Design and Decorative Arts in 2006. Their years of experience in Murals, Gilding, Mosaic, and Decorative Finishes, along with academic achievements and diverse artistic skills, demonstrate imminent triumph and delight through their Wall Art and Design. Art Deco Unique brings joy by doing what they love, and their talent is recognized at national and international competitions, winning multiple awards along the years. The experience gained from multiple projects, combined with their knowledge and curiosity, engaged a beautiful cooperation between them and the versatility of Golden Paintworks products. Rodica and Elena are excited for challenges and new opportunities to dig into their luggage full of ideas.

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