Really Plastered

If you have no interest in faux venetian plaster, or anything with the word venetian in front of it, or anything with the word faux in front of the word venetian in front of it, please skip this entry. You have my unending admiration.

For all others, do please read on.

(Thank God we got rid of those losers. Can you imagine?)

So anyway, I guess I lied. The treatment is more difficult than I'd remembered. I think this is due to the fact that time heals old wounds, and I'm a LOT older than I was the last time I tried this.

If you missed the post on applying the plaster, check that out first.

Once you've got all that done, and you've painted it first with a primer and then with an eggshell-finish paint, then you're ready for the glazing. Helpful hint: Where possible, apply the primer and eggshell paint with a roller, not a brush - the end result will be much smoother.

Get the temperature right. Don't let the house be too hot and dry. And make sure there is no draft on the wall where you'll be working. You don't want the glaze drying too fast.

Ok, now you're ready to begin. Having some glaze is a good place to start. I get mine at Lowes. In this case, its American Tradition Translucent Color Glaze, Mocha. Its "Satisfaction Guaranteed!"

You'll need a brush at least 4" wide, a small pail to hold the glaze, and a bunch of cheesecloth. (whatever you do, don't run out of anything in the middle of the job) You'll also need to put a tarp of some sort down on the floor, 'cuz the glaze'll be flying.

Be aware that once you start, you can't stop until you come to a corner. So look at your work area, and strategize the best place to start. Hint: if its a large wall, you may need to take a break at some point - a good place to do that is above a door. This should tell you that large areas are a bitch, so starting with a smaller wall will help you get the hang of things. Now here is the thing about corners - you'll need to tape the opposing wall, so that no glaze gets on it. This is true even if you plan on glazing that wall also, because you don't want to get any glaze on that wall until you are ready to start that wall.

Now here is the part I forgot. You need two people. Don't the best things in life require a partner anyway? Well, it doesn't get any better than faux venetian plaster! Check your Kama Sutra. Can't find a partner? I am really sorry about your situation. You may want to go join the other losers who skipped this post altogether.

Cut the cheesecloth so you have half a dozen or so 3-4' sections, folded over to the size of a large sponge.

If you haven't already worked this one out at some point, you and your partner will have to decide who will assume which position. One will have to be the applicator, and the other will have to be the rubber. As in, rubbing the glaze off, for chrissakes. You'll need to put on some latex gloves before you start.

The applicator begins by slathering the glaze onto the wall. It will look VERY dark.


After the applicator has covered about 3-5 feet, the rubber will have to get involved. By now the glaze that was first applied should be starting to dry. Dry is bad, so you have to work fast at this point. Begin rubbing the glaze off. If it appears that its just wiping right off, stop and let it dry some more. It should wipe off, but still leave a good deal of the mocha color.


Continue wiping until you are satisfied with the look of it. At some point, it may be necessary to discard a soaked piece of cheesecloth and get a new one. When you do this, you'll have to be careful since it will take more glaze off than the previous soaked one. But keep that soaked one handy, 'cuz you may need it to "add" more color as you go. The more you rub, the better it is. I mean, you know, the better it will look. So keep going over it, while minding not to let the leading edge of your work dry out - in other words, you've got to keep going.

Just keep working it, trying to keep up with your partner. You know, the one applying the glaze. If you need to stop, do it above a door where it will be less noticable. And it will be noticable, so try to keep going - if people can sail solo across the Atlantic, you can make it to that damn corner with a partner.

The great thing about this is that it doesn't have to be perfect - in fact, imperfections make it better. The finished product should look something like this (hand inserted for scale).


Sigh... a cigarette would be great right about now.