Paint Color at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Q Select the paint color for the background and paint the walls. Next, choose the color for your top coat. If you are working with an oil-based eggshell paint you will need to thin it (3 parts top color to 1 part mineral spirits). Choose a top coat color that is either close in tone or contrasts with your Wall color. With dry-brushing, you can cover the background color completely, so your top coat is the color you will see on your finished walls.

0 Select the background color for your Wall and apply the paint with a sponge. Leave a generous space around the area where you are planning to paint your tile. Q Place the cutout shape of the tile, or motif you are going to use, and sponge carefully all around the edges with the background color of the wall. Take care not to let any paint creep underneath the cutout. When the paint is dry, remove the template and you will find a clean area on which to start work. Q With a paint brush, carefully sketch the outline of your Tile in the color you have chosen. Q You might find it easier to draw your design in a soft pencil and then paint over it. With confidence you can work directly with brush and paint and complete your design.

You can buy ready made colorwash paint, but you can alsocreati your own finish with latex or water-based eggshell paint and ati or pigment. To prepare the surface of the wall, paint a base coat of mattei silk latex and allow to dry. Either choose the same color paint on color close in tone and mix a wash of latex and water, in equal parts. Gradually increase the water to make a thin color that willi run down the Wall in heavy droplets, but will allow the base color show through when it is applied. Once you have tested the washi a sample area, continue to apply the remaining color with awide brush using sweeping strokes. Further coats can be applied ina harmonizing color. For a more durable finish, you can use a • glaze as a wash over the whole surface. If you want a hard, protective finish, use a clear, matte polyurethane varnish, or. based acrylic varnish.