How to Mix Paint for Color Washing

Preparation

• 1

  Paint the wall with two base coats of eggshell or satin latex; never use flat. You can stay with your current color or change the color completely.

• 2

  Decide whether to use an oil or water-based glaze. Oil-based will produce deeper, richer color washes, whereas water-based are safer to work with as they are odorless. Oil glazes are more hard wearing and can be used on wood and over water-based paint. Water-based glazes should only be used on walls and never over oil-based paint. Oil-based glazes dry more slowly and, therefore, can be worked longer. Water-based glazes dry quicker, which is useful if you intend working with several applications.

• 3

  Prepare six test sheets by painting white cardstock with your latex base color and put aside.

Oil-based Glaze

• 4

  Gather the ingredients for the oil glaze. For each 50 square feet, you require 1 cup of boiled linseed oil, 2/3 cup of solvent, and 2 tablespoons of whiting chalk. You will also need artist's oil paint or pigment in a color close to the base coat already on the walls. A lighter shade will result in a frosted look; a darker one will produce a deep, glowing finish.

• 5

  Mix the tube -- or tubes-- of oil paint/pigment with a small amount of whiting and solvent to form a paste. Make up 1 cup full.

• 6

  Mix the remaining solvent with the oil and gradually mix in the paste until the glaze is of the right color depth. Check the glaze on the test sheets. Adjust the amount of oil paint/pigment paste as necessary and test again. Apply the glaze to the wall with a sponge or brush.

Water-based Glaze

• 7

  Assemble the ingredients. For each 50 square feet of wall, you will need 1 pint of white vinegar, ¼ teaspoon of dish soap or sugar, 1 tablespoon of glycerine.

• 8

  Mix the ingredients together. Take a tablespoon of the glaze and mix with the dry powder pigment to form a paste. Divide this paste into two. Place one half into a paint bucket and gradually mix in the glaze. Alternatively, use latex paint instead of pigment; simply thin 2 pints of paint with the glaze until the right color intensity is reached.

• 9

  Check the intensity of the glaze on a test sheet. If more color is required, mix with the remaining paste or latex paint. Test again. Apply to walls using your chosen method. If the glaze feels too heavy, thin with water until satisfactory.