If you can dream it, you can DO it! Christopher has compiled an assortment of his classic demos. In each, he simplifies the more overwhelming aspects of home design and presents an easy-to-follow guideline for the do it yourselfer.
Botanical Fresco
Guest Renee Sparks presented Botanical Frescoes made from ceiling tile and silk flowers from the show entitled On the Face of It.
Materials:
- One ceiling tile approximately 15 inches by 20 inches
- Joint compound
- Putty knife
- Spray sealer, semi-gloss
- Silk Narcissus plant with bulb and roots
- Utility knife
- Glue gun with glue stick
- Gesso
- Sponge brush
- Acrylic paints in colors buttermilk, gray, gold, green, burnt umber and yellow
- Sea sponge
- Palette
- 1/2-inch shader brush
- 1/4-inch flat brush
- Water basin
- Paper towels
With hands gently break straight edges off ceiling tile. Shape should remain a rectangle but all edges should be irregular.
Using putty knife, spread a medium to thin layer of joint compound onto surface and sides of ceiling tile. Do not smooth out completely. The surface should have the appearance of a worn fresco with some pitted places and some irregular places. Allow to dry overnight.
Using utility knife, cut back of bulb on silk plant in half. Using glue gun and glue stick, adhere silk plant to dried joint compound.
Apply a coat of gesso over entire piece including the sides using a sponge brush. Allow to dry four hours. Repeat three times. Allow last coat to dry overnight.
Paint entire piece with two coats of acrylic paint (we used Decoart Buttermilk color paint). Allow second coat to dry four hours.
On palette place quarter-sized puddles of gold and gray paint (Decoart Palomino Gold and Lichen Gray). Dip sea sponge in water and wring out slightly leaving some water in the sponge. Dip sponge into gold and blot onto paper towels. Lightly tap randomly onto surface of the painted tile background. Pat with sponge and rub into background until the paint fades into the background. Wash out sponge and repeat with the gray. This will give the background an aged fresco appearance.
Following photograph for placement, paint the silk plant as follows. Leave some water in your brush to give the finished appearance a watercolor look rather than a completely painted in look.
Paint colors: Bulb: Burnt Umber, Roots: Palomino Gold, Leaves: Aspen Green, Petals of narcissus: Sunflower, Center of narcissus: Orange Sherbet
Allow painted piece to dry overnight. In a very well-ventilated area, spray with sealer.
Botanical Fresco
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