How To Create a Faux Stone Look

 It has been a while since I have posted a decorative how-to

project for you. I recently painted the above faux stone effect on canvas.

Then I added a quote in a fancy lettering style. Anyway, I thought you

might enjoy this step by step instruction.

 Start with 3 similar paints. These are latex wall paint but you could use

acrylic craft paint. You will need a small liner brush or 

a feather (goose or chicken), a spray bottle with water, and
you will need a sponge. A sea sponge is good.

The one I used was an inexpensive wanna-be from WalMart.

 Puddle/swirl the 3 different colors of paint. I like them 

mingled on the plate and then mingled on the canvas.

This technique can be used on the wall, a board, a countertop,

a  floor, just about anywhere.

 Spray the surface with water. This will help mingle the paint

and slow the drying time so you don't feel pressured.

 Dip the sponge in the paint catching some of all the colors.

 Dab, dab, dab onto the surface. Be sure to change directions 

with your sponge so you get a random pattern not a repeated pattern.

 To get a good stone effect don't just dab, occasionally press 

the sponge into the surface so that

more paint is released and the edges are softened.

Before the paint starts to dry, spritz a little water here and there.

This will cause the paint colors to flow together. Don't over spray!

And this part only works if your surface is laying flat.

To create the veins use the edge of a feather or a small

liner brush. Using the feather, drag thru a couple of the colors

then pull across the surface. Using the small brush, touch 

into a couple of colors (not mixed) 

then roll and pull (at the same time) across the surface.

The effect is nice if the paint is still a bit damp on your surface.

Also a little spritz of water here and there can soften the

vein and make it appear to go into the stone.

I hope you will get a chance to use this technique and I would

love to see your project. 

I will be back in a day or two to show you how to 

make the stone look like it has been carved.

Freedom-Don't Take It For Granted Watercolor

 

I am so excited!!! I just won my first award!

This won 3rd place at the Watercolor Horizons

show at the Ellen Noel Museum in Odessa. 

The inspiration for the painting:

Joe and I were at a job related training and the instructor

opened the session with a short documentary about

Frances Scott Key and "The Star Spangled Banner".

I was moved to the very core of my being at the 

sacrifices made by our founding fathers.

"O, say does that star spangled banner yet wave?

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

or BECAUSE of the brave.

The flag is displayed on the porch

with the rocking chairs.

Comforting and comfortable.

FREEDOM-Don't Take It For Granted!