Debbie Travis Painting Techniques

Gingham or Plaid Wall Painting

• Debbie Travis paints a wall in one color, then tapes off evenly spaced horizontal stripes. When painting the stripes, a stiff bristle brush is used to create the lines that would appear in fabric vertically and horizontally. After the horizontal lines are dry, vertical stripes are taped off and painted. Again, texture is added with a stiff brush. When the project is complete, the intersecting stripes have two coats of paint, the horizontal and vertical lines have one coat of paint, and the original paint still shows on alternating blocks that were left unpainted. The overall effect is as if enlarged gingham or plaid fabric has been affixed to the wall. This can create an enchanting bedroom, office or other interesting space depending on the colors chosen.

Glazes and Plastic Bag Techniques

• Debbie Travis is well known for mixing paint with glazes for two purposes. One purpose is to prevent fast drying and allow mixing of different color tones, as in her Provencal wall project. Glaze is also used in her application techniques such as bagging where paint thinned with glaze is applied with a plastic grocery bag instead of a paintbrush or roller. This technique creates textures that vary from smooth leather to rough stucco. The variation is created by the application of the bag. Leather effect is created when the bag is smoothed onto the surface and gently removed. Stucco is made when the glaze-paint mixture is dabbed on roughly with a wadded-up bag.

Stencils

• Stenciling is demonstrated in many of Debbie Travis's paint techniques. She will use a spray adhesive for large stencils and painter's tape for smaller ones. One thing she explains in detail is creating your registration marks. These are the markings which allow you to place successive stencils in the exact same position so that the color layers line up correctly.

Furniture

• Furniture is given new life with Debbie Travis's paint techniques. She demonstrates creating wood textures with stain on painted furniture. She also teaches shabby chic methods as well as application of special paints such as crackle paint and milk paint. Using glaze and paint, Debbie demonstrates special tools that are rolled and slid across the still-wet surface to give a strong wood-grain effect. Shabby chic and cottage styles are also demonstrated.