Can I Dry-Brush Paint on a Wall & Glaze Afterward With My Brush?

Preparing Your Walls

• Both dry-brushing and glazing techniques are procedures used to enhance your basic wall color and not as a substitute for flat paint. Always begin a wall painting project by prepping the walls with a stain-blocking primer. Paints and primers typically are available in two main varieties -- oil-based and latex-based. Be sure your paint and primer are the same base because mixing oil and latex varieties can cause paint to peel. Use a 2-inch, tapered brush to cut-in the edges of your walls. Apply paint with a clean roller, working in long, even strokes. Allow the base coat to dry completely before continuing.

Dry-Brushing Technique

• Dry-brushing is an effective way to add depth and texture to your base coat. To create a soft, romantic look, choose two colors of paint, one three to four shades darker than the base coat and one color a few shades lighter. Dip a paintbrush into the darker color of paint. Wipe the brush on the side of the paint can until it is mostly dry with only a small amount of paint remaining. Benjamin Moore recommend using a 2½-inch brush to apply paint at a 45-degree angle. Paint in long strokes at this angle over the dry base coat. Repeat with the second, lighter color, this time working paint in the opposite direction to create X-shapes.

Color Washing Technique

• A common use for glazing on interior walls is to create texture using a painting technique known as color washing. Color washing utilizes a mix of equal parts clear glaze and paint. After painting on a base coat, dip a dry rag into the paint and glaze mixture. Apply it to the walls using a circular motion to create a soft finish. This technique is especially effective for creating a Tuscan, Old World finish on the walls, as it creates a look similar to Venetian plaster. Choose two complementary, but different, hues to create this look.

Combining Dry-Brushing and Glaze

• Applying a clear or tinted glaze on top of a dry-brush painted wall will help enhance the various colors, making the contrast sharper compared to the soft texture of a wall that's dry-brushed only. Dry-brush the wall using the same technique applied in Section 2. After the wall dries completely, brush on a clear or tinted glaze. There are several techniques you can use to apply the glaze. Use a clean, low-nap paint roller to create a flat glaze, adding shine and deepening the colors, without adding extra texture. To increase the texture factor, apply your glaze using a sea sponge, dry rag or a dry brush. Brush on glaze at a 45-degree angle, or dab it on the wall using a circular motion.