Glossary

Antiquing or Ageing: A technique intended to give the appearance of age or wear.

Borders: Stenciled and hand painted borders are used to soften the edges of rooms and ceiling lines and add interest to the space.

Brocade stencil finish: A highly decorative stencil is applied in flat sheen paint over a broken color finish in a satin sheen. The stencil is repeated in a pattern, giving the walls the appearance of "brocade" fabric.

Color Wash/Old World: This finish creates the illusion of an old Tuscan plaster effect. By applying multiple layers we can create depth and movement and a hint of drama.

Combing: A technique of pulling a toothed "comb" through wet paint. The comb can be made of a material such as: rubber, metal, leather, plastic or cardboard.

Crackle: A finish in which cracking is intentionally produced, allowing the undercoat to show through the cracks. A rapid drying of topcoat over slow drying undercoat produces this interesting technique.

Distressing: Also a term used to describe a decorative paint finish that gives the appearance of age and wear.

Faux Finishes: French word meaning "fake or false". Technically, wood-graining, marbleizing, or other painted finishes that are replicating a natural material are faux finishes. However, this term has become an umbrella name to describe all painted decorative finishes.

Faux Wood Grain: A technique creating the illusion of wood using tools and paint.

Frottage: This comes from the French word meaning "to rub". The decorative paint term denotes a technique of applying a wet glaze, then rubbing it with fabric, paper or other materials, to create a texture.

Gilding: The application of metal in any form (gold or other metallic leaf, metallic foil, metallic paint, metallic powder, etc.).

Glazing: Process of applying a tinted, but transparent paint over a base coat to create a softly modulated, watercolor effect. The darkness of the basecoat and the number of layers of glaze applied can create a rich saturated appearance.

Harlequin diamonds: Harlequin diamonds are painted in a pattern in either subtly contrasting colors or sheens and can also be applied in a subtractive paint finish, creating a classic and elegant appearance.

Marbleizing: A faux finish that creates the illusion of marble.

Metallic finishes: Decorative finishes that use metallic paint in various techniques over other painted finishes. Golds, silvers and bronzes are used over different colored base coats to achieve the appearance of antique gold, burnished bronze or shimmering silver.

Murals: A mural is defined as a painted picture on a wall or ceiling.

Opaque paint layers: Any paint finish layer that is made from a pastel base paint with titanium pigment will soften and possibly lighten the affect of the decorative paint finish. Opaque paint finish layers allow the faux finisher to correct and soften the previous layers.

Paint sheen: All paints and glazing liquids have different sheens and can affect the success of certain decorative paint techniques. They will also affect the final look and appearance of the room. Paint sheens vary from flat (a non reflective, dull finish) to high gloss.

Patina: A thin greenish layer that forms on copper or copper alloys, such as bronze, as a result of long exposure to the elements and often valued aesthetically for its color. It gives a surface appearance of something grown beautiful with age or use.

Pigments: Material mixed into paint bases to create paint colors.

Rag Roll: A decorative paint technique that involves applying or subtracting color by "rolling" a damp crumpled rag over the wall surface.

Ragging: A decorative paint finish that is either applied or subtracted with a crumpled damp rag.

Sponging: A broken color effect produced by either applying color or removing color by pouncing with a natural sponge while paint is still wet.

Stencil: A tool used to apply a repeated image or pattern by dabbing paint on a commercial sponge or stippling brush over the negative space cut out of a sheet of mylar or stiff oak tag.

Stipple: A decorative treatment also known as"Pouncing". A glaze or paint is applied to the surface and while it is wet, a stippler is pounced onto the surface causing the glaze to disperse into tiny dots. Stippling gives a very even film of glaze while removing brush strokes in a wet glaze.

Strie: A technique used for achieving a subtle mix of fine stripes (or brush strokes) by pulling a dry, stiff bristled brush or rubber comb through wet paint.

Stripes: Stripes are applied over a basecoat or decorative finished surface in a width suited to the scale of the room. Stripes can be applied with a subtractive technique and in a subtly contrasting sheen creating a soft and rich effect.

Subtractive technique: Any paint technique that is first applied and then "subtracted" with a sea sponge, rag, plastic bag, or other tool, creating a subtly textured effect.

Texture: Paint finishes create various degrees of 2-dimensional texture by adding or subtracting gently contrasting color paint in the techniques described above. 2-dimensional texture adds warmth, character, and depth to an interior.

Transparent paint layers: Any paint finish layer that is made from a neutral base or glazing liquid will be semi-transparent and will darken the finish with each additional layer. The basecoat color will be tinted by the transparent paint or glazing liquid.

Trompe l'oeil: French expression meaning, "To deceive the eye". A painting technique in which an illusion of depth and reality is created by emphasizing highlights and shadows. In art, trompe l'oeil is defined as a 'still life deception', a painting able to make the viewer believe that an object actually exists in 3D space, in relief. It also means illusion, a deceptive appearance, eyewash or camouflage, in short 'Fool the eye'!

Venetian Plaster: Involves the application of pigmented limestone and marble dust to create the look and feel of authentic stone.