Stippling: Oil based
	Rating 3.5 -  mod. to difficult	watch video clip more about glazing... How to fix drips and spills

For walls, furniture, and objects

Stippling, also known as pouncing, is a textured effect that simulates a fine, sandy appearance. This is a lovely finish, produced an wall surfaces, as well as an excellent treatment for trim, doors and window frames. Using a special brush known as a stippling brush creates this finish.

Stipple brush: You can buy special commercially made stipple brushes. They tend to be expensive, so it is important to constantly clean these brushes during use to prolong their use and to protect your investment. To create your own, inexpensive stipple brushes, follow the simple procedure by clicking here.

An eggshell sheen is recommended for all surfaces being treated with all decorative finishes produced by the Negative method of glaze application.

It is recommended that two individuals work in tandem to produce this finish.

The method that follows is designed to create a soft subtle decorative effect, ideally suited for trim, moldings, furniture and doors and window frames.

Step 1: Remove all nails and repair any damaged or cracked areas. Prime as needed. Refer to the artsparx basic preparation resource for tips and techniques.

Step 2: For wall surfaces, tape off all baseboard edges, ceiling edge, trim and doorframes. Remove all electrical and light switch cover plates. For trim, doors and window frames, isolate moldings, doors and trim by taping off wall surfaces and surrounding areas. Cover furniture and floor areas with drop cloths.

Step 3: Determine the overall color value of the room or surface being treated. Choose an eggshell base color of your choice that is approximately two values lighter than the overall color value you would like to achieve.  For oil-based paints allow to fully dry (24 hrs).

Step 4: Mix the secondary, stipple color. In a bucket create a color combination that is a value or two darker than the base color. Glaze coat is mixed as a concentrated color, then diluted to the proper fluidity needed for the glazing process. As a general rule it is better to mix too much glaze color than not enough. It is very difficult to match the custom color once you have started glazing a room. For most rooms, one quart of Paintmanufacture oil based glazing liquid will be sufficient. Using universal tinters, add color slowly, mixing thoroughly until desired color is achieved. Add 1/8 cup varnish or polyurethane to add durability to the glaze. It may also be helpful to add small amounts of mineral spirits to facilitate mixing. This will be your ‘master glaze’. You can experiment in a low visibility area of the surface being treated. Adjust color to the ‘master glaze’ to your liking, wiping clean your test area after each test application.

Step 5: Pounce brush - Use a commercially purchased pounce (stipple) brush or create your own inexpensive pounce brushes. Find out how.

Step 6: Wear disposable gloves. Place a portion of prepared glaze color in a 2.5 qt. bucket. Add mineral spirits and dilute to proper consistency. Experiment. In the other bucket saturate a rag with mineral spirits.

WARNING – BEWARE! It is important to use caution with solvents. Always use appropriate protective gear on all exposed body areas, especially the hands and eyes. Always work in a well-ventilated room. Do NOT work near heat sources, and NEVER smoke while working, as many solvents are flammable.

When glazing, always work from top to bottom. If you start at the bottom and work upward, any drips or spills occurring can damage already treated lower portion finish.

Step 7: Wear protective gloves. Use the rag damp with mineral spirits and a clean 3 to 5 inch brush for applying your color glaze. Starting at the top of the wall, one individual should use the damp rag and wipe over surface. Work in one area at a time, moving methodically forward over wall surface. 

Apply glaze in irregular sections.
This insures a random overall appearance and helps diminish potential 'burn' lines (glaze build up from section to section).
See glazing methods for more information.

Saturating the surface first allows the glaze to go on fluidly and evenly.

The second individual should take the brush, dipped in the glaze, and brush over the dampened area of wall to spread glaze. Work evenly over area for full coverage. Make sure not to leave any untreated areas. Soften glaze color working in a criss-cross manner with another brush until relative smoothness is achieved. Work quickly and conscientiously, keeping exposed edges dampened with mineral spirits.

Step 8: Using the stipple brush, begin the stipple process by hitting surface directly on with bottom of the brush, holding the brush perpendicular to the surface. Use a firm hand and continually move your wrist to vary pattern being created. This will remove the freshly applied glaze from the surface, revealing the base color and producing a spotty or sandy texture. It is best to go over the surface loosely once, then return and begin to refine the pattern with your second pass.

Regularly wipe brush dry with a clean rag to remove excess glaze and to ensure a fresh stipple pattern. Work evenly over surface.

If glaze is too fluid and continually “sags” or runs, allow to set momentarily then return and work at glaze with a dry brush until smooth. Be aware that oil-based glazes set quickly.

Step 9: Move to next area and repeat. Do not stop until entire surface has been treated. Do not put glaze on previous edge but rather apply within 1 inch or so and soften into previous edge with your stipple brush or another dry brush.

At corners apply glaze to within ½ to 1 inch of edge and with a dry brush, work into corner, then soften, smooth and stipple with a smaller, single brush. Use light, gentle movements

Step 10: An oil-based varnish, such as oil varnish , may be applied after stippled surfaces have dried completely (24 hrs.) for protection. For wall surfaces it is recommended to use Paintmanufacture low-luster finish.

Step 11: Clean up with mineral spirits.

Step 12: Retain some of the master glaze for future touch ups in a covered glass container. Dispose of remaining glazes properly.

Important Tip - How to fix drips and spills
If wet glaze gets onto an area that has already been finished and has begun to set, it may dissolve the previous finish. Simply blot area with a dry rag to remove excess. Any attempt to repair area before completely dry may result in a mess that is virtually irreparable. Small areas are manageable. Correcting large areas may require removing all the paint and reapplying it from scratch.

Small area repair: Once completely dry (24 hrs.) fresh glaze may be touched in with an artists brush until desired results are achieved.

Large area repair: Treat before drying is complete.  If a large area of glaze is affected and begins to burn away, or dissolve, the removal of the entire glazed surface may be required. To do this, dampen a rag with mineral spirits and wipe surface until clean, using multiple rags if necessary.

Alternatively, you may allow wall to dry completely (24 hrs.), then repaint base coat and begin again.