PAINTING TROMPE L'OEIL CRACKS ON A WALL & TUTORIAL

     Today, I finished a job at Tina's house and got to take some photos of past projects that I did at her house.  She does like old and old world decorating.  A while back she asked me to paint trompe l'oeil cracks on her patio walls.

It's a little too cold right now, so you don't see all of her beautiful flowers and greenery on her patio.  But, a few months ago when I painted these cracks it looked really, really nice to see the plants in the background.

TUTORIAL

It's not hard to paint cracks and crevices.  I used a dark raw umber and a little bit of black and a very small brush.  It's best to start with a small brush because you can always smudge a little wider and a little more narrow.  You start where you think cracks would be naturally.  I didn't use a pencil, but it might help if you use a pencil first so you could see where you're going with your brush.  At the end I gently smudged around close to the cracks so they would look a little bit dirty and smudgy.  After a while with the natural elements they will start looking even more natural.  And, they might look a little better and more authentic from a distance.

Have fun!

(Original Post 3/3/13)

PAINTING FAUX FINISHES ON IRENE'S DINING ROOM WALLS & CEILING & CRACKLED DISTRESSED FINISH ON HER KITCHEN CABINETS

PAINTING FAUX FINISHES ON IRENE'S DINING ROOM WALLS & CEILING & CRACKLED DISTRESSED FINISH ON HER KITCHEN CABINETS

Irene's home is so elegant!

Through the years she has asked me to paint special finishes in several of her rooms.

This is her dining room.

I painted her ceiling medallion to coordinate with her fabrics and the finish I painted on her ceiling.

I painted her ceiling a very dark brown and hand painted metallic gold over the whole surface.  I painted the gold in swirls, just swirling my paint brush.

Remember, you have to have light for the metallic paints to reflect.

This is the finish I painted on her dining room walls. I painted the walls a metallic gold, then crackled a very soft green over the gold.  Last, I glazed with an antiquing glaze.  Notice that I painted the chair rail  and switch plate so they wouldn't be so noticeable.

I painted the crown molding the same dark brown as the ceiling.  Then, I painted a solid coat of the metallic gold, leaving little brown streaks.

If I paint a special finish on a ceiling I always paint over the a/c vent, too.  Sometimes I paint the whole thing and sometimes I just paint the outer edges and not the little louvres.  

This is the crackled distressed finish I painted on her kitchen cabinets.

I used a stencil and metallic gold for the design.  

Then, I painted an aging glaze and sealed with a clear sealer.

This is one of my favorite kitchens that I've painted.  

I think the cabinets are so beautiful and really fit in with her other decor.   

Her kitchen island has the same finish as the other cabinets.

There is a wet bar between the large kitchen area and the dining room.  

I painted the same finish on those cabinets.  The upper cabinet doors have a decorative clear glass and you can see her beautiful crystal glasses.

I'm very proud of my work, here.

Irene, thank you for letting me be a small part of your lovely home!  

  Original Post 

July 12, 2015