A style of painting where the base color is covered by a glaze top coat and a rough-textured appearance is produced by sponging over the wet surface is termed as sponge painting. It is very inexpensive painting style because the materials and tools are readily available. This is relatively fast way of painting, although it may be tedious. Sponge painting is an excellent technique for walls that are irregular or have asymmetry in shape. The very first step to get started would be to select your choice of paint. Make sure to rehearse this technique, prior to the application on the walls. The rehearsal can be done on a cardboard. Try sponging if you’re a beginning decorative painter. Here is the way to get started with sponge painting.
Complexity level: Easy
Time required: Varies from a day or more, depending on the area of the room
Resources required
- Two different colors of paint
- Paper towels
- Natural sea sponges, buckets, stirring rod and rubber gloves
- Glaze top coat paint
Estimated cost: $50 to $100 for a small room
Process
- Choose a base paint or primary coat according to your taste. Paint your walls with the color you have decided to use as the primary coat and then permit it to dry. You can opt for a flat, eggshell, satin or semi-gloss interior paint.
- Take a large bucket and mix 4 parts of faux glaze together with 1 part of the top color. Be generous in adding glaze if you want a transparent upper coat. In case you want your top coat to be dingier and to throw some mat effect, add less amount of faux glaze.
- Wipe off the excess color on the side of the paint can or tray.
- Begin by lightly exerting pressure on the sponge toward the sides and corners. Press down the sponge tightly on the wall every which way, so that a thin coat of glaze is left.
- Always remember not to press down too hard as you work, to get rid of the extra glaze.
- Roll your sponge in a wavy pattern to attain a random visual aspect.
- When glaze is finished on sponge, immerse it briefly into the liquid and continue to paint the other parts of the surface. Always keep the edge of the painted area moist and work on a small domain at a time. You can use small sponges in order to paint the corners or the vertex of the room perfectly.
- When you are done, stand at a distance and look at the wall to ensure that the entire area is painted to the same degree.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the safest combination of colors which can be used in a sponge painting for a beginner?
A: The safest choice in color selection is to use the same color in different tones.
Quick tips
- Always select a lighter color for glaze in comparison to the base coat. If the glaze is darker, your room will get a dark tone instead of a fresh one.
- Choose a natural sea sponge over the synthetic sponge for painting.
Things to watch out for
- Wear gloves on your hand to avoid staining them while you are busy painting.
- While painting, the wall and sponge should be moist.