Decorating (Faux stone wall finish)

[Audra1976 at aol.com]

<<I'll locate the painting book where I got the technique from this weekend and post it for you.>>

Okay, here it is if you're interested.  This may sound complicated, but it is really very simple.  The stone effect is really created in the first two steps.  The other steps are just outlining blocks and adding shadow to make it look three-dimensional:

You will need:

-Emulsion (latex) paint in whatever stone color you want (should be a light color unless you want a really dark room), plus a slightly darker version of that color for the shadows, plus off-white.
-large brush
-card stock A3 size 
-pencil
-2.5 cm (1 inch) paintbrush
-swordliner (you can get this at a large craft store or paint store)

1.) Use the large brush to apply a base coat of the stone color in random sweeping strokes, leaving a mottled surface.  Let dry.
2.) Repeat step 1 with the off-white paint, but use a dry brush this time, scraping off the excess and applying paint in alternating directions, letting some of the base color show through.  This gives the stone texture.
3.) Draw the blocks of stone by puttng the card stock against the wall and drawing around it with pencil.  Start at the bottom corner of the wall and work your way up and over.  Stagger the blocks in each row with the row underneath it (like bricks).
4.) Using the off-white, add a stroke of light on the left side of each block and on the bottom of each block.  Blend the off-white into the middle of the block with a dry brush so it doesn't look like a stripe.
5.) Outline each block with the swordliner and the darker color paint, slightly curving the corners so the edges of the stone do not look too rigid.
6.) Highlight the top and the right side of each block using the sword liner and the off-white paint.


-Audra-