Friday, March 8, 2013

DRAWING & PAINTING A HARLEQUIN PATTERN & STRIPES ON WALLS & TUTORIAL

DRAWING & PAINTING A HARLEQUIN PATTERN & STRIPES ON WALLS & TUTORIAL

My client was redecorating her daughter's room.
She asked me to paint a harlequin pattern on her wall to match her new bedding.
There is LOTS of drawing.
I always use a pencil so I can erase any lines I'm not going to use.
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HARLEQUIN TUTORIAL

If you want to paint a harlequin pattern on your wall, you first decide your colors and paint a base coat color on  your wall.  After that dries really well you can start drawing.  You need a pencil, an eraser and a level.  (I love my level!)  Decide how large you want the diamond shape to be.  This client wanted a smaller pattern.  I like the look of a larger pattern than this one.  On an 8' wall maybe stack four harlequins.  If you had no baseboard, each one would be about 24".  But, you have a baseboard and, possibly, a crown molding.  You have to figure and subtract a few inches so they'll fit in your space.  Next you decide how wide you want each pattern to be.  Now you start figuring and drawing.  This is why I use a pencil.  I draw a grid on the wall and erase any lines I don't paint over.  Pay close attention to your painting, making sure you skip every other diamond.  I always put a piece of tape on the diamond I WON'T be painting.
While I was working on the harlequin pattern they asked me to paint stripes in the kids' bath.  After painting the stripes I mixed a very light antiquing glaze and brushed on and wiped off with a rag.  It looked really cute.  I love the colors they chose!
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STRIPES TUTORIAL

First, I painted the base coat.  The client told me about how wide they wanted the stripes.  I measured around the room and decided how wide they could be.  But, it's important to count the stripes and make sure that when you get to the end, you don't have two of the same color.  Even though I know how to count, I still use my yard stick and go around the room, saying to myself: "pink/orange, pink/orange".  A long time ago when I was painting stripes I had everything measured just perfectly and at the end, I had two of the same color!!!!!  Not sure how that happened, but, that's why I count around the room just making sure there are NO mistakes!  As you're painting, if you see you're going to have a few inches left over or a few inches short, it's ok to start adding or taking away 1/4" or 1/2" to each stripe.  As you're wrapping around a corner, you can cheat a little bit, too.  
It will all come out looking really nice.  
Have fun!! 

(If you have any questions, please click on "Ask Me" and I'll be very glad to help you.)

28 comments:

  1. Since you can do all this brainy stuff, I'm going to consider you a math genius. I don't care how much figuring I do, it does not come out right so my hat is off to anyone who can do geometrics on a wall. Great job.

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  2. Wow all the instructions are GREAT,I love the Harlequin pattern, loks fabulous, the bathroom wall is gorgeous, colors and the glaze on it. Thanks for sharing your fantastic work you do its so inspirational, have a great week..

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  3. Thank you! I do love the pink and orange together.

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  4. Beautiful job on both the bedroom and the bathroom. It's amazing what a difference a little paint can make! -- Jan

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  5. Great tutorial - this looks very time consuming to do. You really do beautiful work! Hope you can stop by the enchanted oven.
    xo,
    Lisa

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  6. It looks wonderful, but wow, such a truly work of art. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  7. Thank you and yes, it is a lot of mental work!!

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  8. That looks very labor intensive to me! I'm impressed and thank for for linking to "Open House".

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    1. You are sooo right!! It certainly was labor intensive! Thank you for your "Open House".

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  9. Beautiful work! Thanks for sharing.
    I found you today on Featherd Nest Friday's Linky. I hope you can stop by my blog to say hello!
    ~ Megin of VMG206
    www.vmg206.blogspot.com

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  10. This is gorgeous! I wish that I had pictures of a wall project I did 15 years ago...everyone but me hated it.. I was ahead of my time I guess! I am not too good with straight lines but for a wall like that...I can certainly try! I am hosting a blog party today and Monday at http://frugalfitfamily.com - both links are up so please stop by if you can!

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  11. That turned out wonderful! Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing at TTF. Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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  12. Lynda you are amazing and on top of that you clearly have the patience of a saint. I would love it if you would share this inspirational post at our WIW Linky party. It's still open. I hope you can join us!

    Paula
    ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

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  13. Thank you!! I love the name of your blog!!! and, I'm a new follower.

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  14. Great tutorial - the harlequin pattern turned out marvelously! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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    1. Thank you and I hope the tutorial helps someone with their project.

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  15. Wow Lynda, doing a Harlequin on a wall is alot of work. My hubby is an engineer and he loves figuring stuff like this out. Whenever I do anything with a pattern I let him do the math. He enjoys it and makes him realize that he is needed. lol! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  16. Great paint job! Looks good! Thanks for sharing @ Submarine Sunday!

    T'onna

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  17. Great pattern! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  18. Love this Harlequin pattern - looks so elegant. Thanks for linking up at Romance on a dime!!

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  19. Are your harlequin diamonds in this blog a paint or glaze? Love the color and dimension. Can u give us the brand and name? Thx!!!!

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    1. Hi, the client painted the pinky peach walls. I used a chocolate brown paint. I worked kind of fast so the paint wouldn't dry. I painted the chocolate brown inside a harlequin, then rubbed off paint in the middle using a circular motion with a rag. It's ok if each harlequin looks a little different. You can use any paint or glaze. I used paint. Hope this helps. Please feel free to message me if you have more questions. Lynda

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