Painting Lessons

What are the necessary tools for painting?

Preparation

• scraper (try a 5-in-1 tool)
• Flush spackle, which eliminates the need to sand
• no-drip caulking gun
• latex silicon caulk
• blue painter's tape
• sandpaper--220-grit for light sanding/150-grit for heavier sanding

Applicators

• For latex paint, use a 2-1/2" nylon polyester brush with a tapered edge for easy soap and water clean up. This is good for cut-in work and trim.
• For oil-based paint, use a china bristle brush that is cleaned with paint thinner.
  

Roller Handles and Covers

• Try a quick-release roller handle to eliminate sticky covers that won't come off.
• Covers: 1/4 inch for smooth surfaces, 1/2 inch for rougher ones.
• Extension pole--this is easily manipulated and fits in a toolbox.
• Paint trays--use a liner (set in sun and peel off dried paint to reuse).
• Paint bucket--pour about an inch of paint in one to move around easily.
• Tarps--plastic for furniture and cloth for the floor.

For one-coat coverage:

1. Transfer paint to a separate bucket and mix well.
2. Pick the right roller cover. If it's too thick, it will leave too much paint on the wall and vice versa.
3. Saturate all of the roller fibers by working it into the paint tray several times.
4. To cut in (the paint stripe around trim, ceilings and baseboards):

• Tape if desired or get as close as possible to trim and let the brush work its way along it.
• Don't paint a large stripe to avoid that line showing through later (about two inches is enough).
• Paint one wall at a time--cut in, then roll out.
• Use the roller against the cut-in stripe first, getting as close as possible to blend. Work in two-inch squares from the ceiling down. Then backroll by rolling one large section at a time from top to bottom for one-coat coverage.

Start with an inspiration piece to pick a color (i.e. an area rug, sofa fabric, border, picture, pillow, etc.).

Color Wheel Basics

• 12 colors comprise the wheel:
  -Three primary--red, yellow and blue.
  -Three secondary (a mix of two primaries)--orange, green and violet.
  -Six tertiary (a mixture of one primary and one secondary)--red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet and red -violet.
• Opposites on the wheel create lively combinations (i.e. reds and greens, blues and oranges).
• Colors next to each other are more subtle (blue / blue-green / green).
• Value refers to how light or dark a color is.
• Saturation is how bright or neutral one is.

Exterior vs. Interior Paint

The fundamental difference is the glue used to hold the paint together. Exterior paint glue is more soft and flexible to resist heat and moisture. Interior paint glue is harder which makes it washable. Note: Experts advise not to use one in place of the other.

Painting Techniques

• Sponging--select the darkest color first (from the inspiration piece), then soften it with a medium and light version of that main color.
• Be sure not to select three separate colors out of the inspiration piece, as they probably won't blend well.
• Use this color selection technique for ragging, dragging, striping and washing. However, select three main colors for stenciling, letting the artwork be the star.

Clean Up

• For latex paint, pour about one inch of water in a bucket and work it through the brush until clean, changing the water as necessary. Pull a wire brush through bristles to remove tough, dry paint. Once dry, return to its original packaging.
• For a china bristle brush, use paint thinner and wear gloves while employing the same technique above.