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Bedroom Redux - Painted Wallpaper Tutorial

6/22/2012

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Not knowing where to start can cause a project to remain stalled for years.  In this room, the bed and one other piece of furniture (a desk that is used as a sewing station) had been selected but the homeowners could not come to agreement on wall color, additional pieces of furniture, window treatments or carpeting.  I was asked to complete the design using these two pieces as inspiration.

To begin, I started by pulling dozens and dozens of paint chips and had the clients weed out colors they did not like, until there were around 10 good options.  (I find that it's easier for people to vote colors "off the island" as opposed to selecting the ones they LOVE).  I took this information, along with a sample of the fabric from the bed's headboard and went to work sourcing carpet.

The two clients wanted totally different carpets.  One wanted bold patterns (think zebra stripes) while the other wanted something calm and subtle.  After visiting no less than 5 different shops and providing 26 different samples for review, carpet was selected.  We used the "finalist" paint colors to select carpet, then determined the winning two paint colors. 

Before:

Picture
Two distinct design styles combined in one space left the owners of this bedroom yearning for unity
I suggested each of the clients select their very own nightstand, keeping in mind the color scheme we had established.  They each chose something different and beautiful, and they compliment the space perfectly, hinting at their individual styles but still remaining cohesive with the space.

The highlight of this project was painting one of the walls to look like wallpaper!

After

Bedroom After
Hours and hours of work went into hand painting the wall in this San Francisco bedroom.

Painted Wallpaper Tutorial

Inspired by this painted wallpaper, I decided this is the perfect way to create a focal point without hanging art on the wall, since most people don't like having art over their beds in San Francisco (earthquakes!)  This paint treatment offers a bit of pattern in this room while allowing the occupants to sleep soundly.  The process is easy, requires only a few tools, a somewhat steady hand, and time.

Following is the tutorial for this project which includes the stencil template as well as general directions for how to go about transforming any wall into a showpiece!

Materials:

Base | Eddie Bauer home | Beach EB12-1 eggshell paint
Accent | Eddie Bauer Home | Travertine EB36-4 eggshell paint
Floetrol paint additive
Roller, trim brush, paint pan, dropcloth(s)
Level
Pencil
Clear acetate
Sharpie permanent marker
Exacto Knife
Pencil
Artist's brush
Picture
Free Download

Let's Begin:

Once you have selected your colors and painted the room with the base color, it's time to start the process of painting the design.  Begin by printing the template out (above).  Lay a piece of clear acetate over the stencil and carefully trace it out using the Sharpie permanent marker.  Be sure to include the little horizontal bits that hold the center square in the stencil!
Picture
Cut the stencil out using the Exacto knife, paying careful attention to the corners.  Again, remember not to cut those little supports that are holding the center square.

Once that's done, find the center of your wall and mark a vertical line using a pencil.  Lightly trace around the stencil, being sure to add the "additional filler" between each motif.  Once a few squares are drawn in, place the stencil between two motifs to the right or left of the line, and, making sure it's vertical, draw it in.  Repeat on the other side, then measure and use that spacing to draw the rest of the vertical lines on the wall.  Work your way along, taking frequent breaks.  The process takes quite a while.  once you're done drawing, mix some accent paint and Floetrol in a container.  (Floetrol extends the drying time of the latex paint.)  Using your small artists brush, begin to fill in the design, doing your best to keep each line straight.  I worked in sections, painting different sections at the same time so that I was never touching a spot that was wet.  Take your time; making sure you're painting the right place.  Make a mistake?  Just wash it off with a wet rag, let that spot dry, and try again.  As I worked, I would feather out the ends of my painting so that there were no hard lines showing where I stopped and started. 
Picture
Painting the wall took a LONG time.  It's a beautiful result, though, and for those who might not be interested in devoting hour upon hour to the project, as well as those brave enough to tackle the project, I offer a virtual gift:  Desktop Wallpaper!  

Once the wall was completed, I took a photo of the large expanse of pattern and formatted it to fit most standard computer monitors. 
Kyle William Desktop Wallpaper
Kyle William Desktop Wallpaper
Select the appropriate size and download the file with my thanks for taking time to
visit the website and read the blog.

4:3 (Standard) Desktop Wallpaper [.jpg files]


2048 x 1536
1600 x 1200
1024 x 768

16:9 (Widescreen) Desktop Wallpaper [.jpg files]


3360 x 2100
2520 x 1575
1680 x 1050
Like what you see?  Click the "like" Facebook button or share this post on Twitter with your friends.  Thanks!
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The Good & The Bad: 2 finished paintings

12/16/2008

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Finished 2 paintings last night - this one 32" x 32" to emulate the art of Andrew Wyeth... it's of my bedroom window - the house is over a century old and in New Middletown, IN (about 30 miles from Jeffersonville, IN and near Louisville, KY) - I want to do more to this one but it had to be finished enough to turn in... so here it is...


and this one - a self portrait that I didn't want to do... both for school... I'm pretty happy with the first one but the self portrait will probably be painted over (after it's graded tonight!)  the stairs are from a mansion in Louisiana (I've never been) and I'm sitting on the stairs knitting.. I think it looks like I have makeup on... but for my first portrait in acrylic (ever) and painting of a human form in years (over a decade since I tried!) I think it's pretty good.  I'll try again but this one isn't something I feel interested in saving... unless I'm convinced otherwise...


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Thankful.

11/26/2008

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Self Portrait - Painting in Progress

I'm working on my self portrait for Acrylics class and it's coming along nicely so far... I have the background begun and I'm pleased with the way the colors look.  The staircase is from an antebellum mansion that is now owned (or was, anyway?) by Ashland (an oil company) and it's located in Louisiana - I think Baton Rouge?- anyway, it's probably gone now because of Katrina, but the photo remains, and I am in love with the curves of the staircase, aged plaster walls and old wooden stairs.  This one is due on December 16th, so I have to get going on it - I plan on working more on it this weekend. 


Thankful

The list could go on for miles... but here's a quick list of what (and who) I am thankful for this Thanksgiving, 2008-

- My Health - My Family - My Wonderful Animals - Eyesight, being able to move... drive a car... communicate effectively - Sanity (or insanity, depending on the day; I'm thankful for both) - creativity (the little I have) - my yarn stash - the support of my partner in my endeavors - friends online - friends across the country (and around the world) who I don't see as often as I'd like - sending (and receiving) random letters or packages in the mail - Knowing that everything happens for a reason and in time, everything passes - the comfort of knowing that my father and grandmother are both at peace, no longer suffering with illness or age - my history and the path that led me right here, right now - the courage to know who I am and the freedom in my country to be out and proud (even if that doesn't include the freedom to marry; at least I have the freedom to love) - and as corny as it sounds, I am thankful for every breath, every blink, every smile and laugh - I'm thankful I'm alive...

I'd love to hear who or what you are especially thankful for this year - if you feel inclined, email me or post a comment.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving -

Lyrics to the "song of the moment"

the song is beautiful and reminds me to be thankful for every day...

I'm Alive - Willie Nelson

It's so damn easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me, I'd like to thank my lucky stars
That I'm alive and well

And it'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
You were on, on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing, can't you see?
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive and well, God, I'm alive and well

Stars are dancing on the water here tonight
It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight
This boat has caught it's wind and brought me back to life
Now I'm alive and well

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing, can't you see?
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive and well, God, I'm alive and well

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Abstract Landscape - Finished!

11/12/2008

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27" x 50", Acrylic and mixed media / collage on canvas - I had a great time working on this piece - frustrated a good part of that time - it was when I allowed myself to just "let go" and try things that it started to work out the way I wanted!

I'm excited about being finished with this one and look forward to the next projects!

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Canyon Painting Progress

10/29/2008

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What can I say... I am not liking it at all... I was frustrated yesterday in class and started to redraw with white paint... I am not happy with the flat blue sky (which would get more help anyway) and I don't really like anything about the composition -

Watch for drastic changes to this piece probably this weekend.  I can't decide what it wants to be... but chances are it'll get more and more abstract - I'm thinking of covering the entire surface with canyon wall instead of having the sky in it at all... we'll see what I come up with...

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Works in Progress

10/27/2008

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I went with a friend from school to an art supply expo in Pasadena on Sunday.  There were probably 100 vendors there, selling brushes, paint, canvases, and all kinds of neat artsy stuff.  We hung out at the Golden Acrylic booth and learned about OPEN - their new acrylics that stay wet for a day... (instead of 10-40 minutes!) - we also went by Duho Studios - a company that was making exotic wood panels for painting - BEAUTIFUL - I bought some goodies at a few booths, including loading up on pallette knives and mediums and gels at the Liquitex booth.  I discovered white ink there also - which I'm excited about and think I may use in a project very soon!

When I got home, I did some messing around on the abstract landscape - I added some texture with string medium that I tinted with inks - it's the consistency of honey and drips in neat long strings... I also put on some crackle medium and some medium that has a type of sand in it... To be honest, I'm not overwhelmed with this piece quite yet - I don't love the way it looks and have no clear direction as to how I will finish it.  I WILL say, however, that after visiting all those booths and reviewing some of the literature I brought home, I am looking forward to working more on it tonight. 

in knitting news, I continue to work on the striped sweater I am test knitting.  The more I work on this the more I love the pattern (and idea) and the more I dislike my color combo.  I just don't know if I'll wear it because the colors are soo bright... but I am not giving up; I wanted to do this more than anything and I'm clicking right along with the pattern... I will reserve final judgement when I try it on...

I will say this though... I am already trying to decide what the next color combo will be for this pattern.... I might use neutral beiges, or different greens (now THAT's a surprise coming from ME!) - or possibly if the gauge works out different skeins of noro kuryeon... we'll see; I don't want to get too ahead of myself - let's focus on finishing this one!


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Quilt Painting Done

10/20/2008

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I finished the quilt painting this weekend - 36" x 36", the object was to demonstrate a number of different color theories within the panels.  The canvas was to be divided into 16 separate spaces, with a pattern or motif in each one. 

I decided to do a quilt pattern which ties into my southern history, and designed a panel that features a Star of David (hinting at my partner's Jewish history)... within the piece (it's not easy to see here) you will find bits of letters from my grandmother and father, a masonic symbol in my dad's honor, a Jewish morning prayer, etc.  Among other things, I also included fingerprints from me and my partner (in different triangles) - and added texture with mediums, gels, etc.  The entire piece is coated with glaze and seems "finished" although critique is coming up tomorrow (Tuesday) and after that I may glaze on top of it to "age" the piece a bit... I also was thinking of painting stitching around each triangle (like quilting) - but didn't have time to do it before class so I didn't start.  I have no problem doing it but don't know for sure if it'll add to the piece or not... if I DO paint the stitching on the canvas, it won't be stark white paint - it'll probably be some sort of glaze or mixture of white with another color so that the stitches are there but not as obvious as you'd think.  What do you think - should I "quilt" the painting?  (all 768 triangles on the canvas)? 

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Canyon Painting - Just the Beginning...

10/9/2008

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OK so it doesn't look like much yet - but it's my abstract landscape painting... I stretched the canvas myself - I believe it's 28" x 50" - strange size (deliberately because I had to stretch it; why would I stretch a "standard" size?) - at this point, it's just a basic wash in colors, and I started to apply some old photos torn in bits and pieces - trust me; I have an idea.. I just hope I can make it work :)

right now, it's feeling pretty flat... but give it time... this is what it looked like after the first session...


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Candy Painting Progress - Week Three

9/24/2008

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It's getting closer to being done... I added the wrapper to the taffy on the bottom and the cellophane wrapper to the butterscotch candy at the top left - I have a few tweaks I want to do to it before it's complete but I better hurry up; it's due next Tuesday!

We also got our assignment for our "midterm" painting - due October 21st and we do not work on it at all in class - it's a 36" x 36" canvas - more on that later.

Sorry for the bad photo; it was late at night and I just wanted to get a picture posted...


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Painting Progress - Week 2

9/17/2008

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So here's my painting after the second class - I like the little slideshow feature that flickr has - it helps to see how the painting is progressing! 

Last night, I started to build up the wrapper for the sucker on the right, and people are looking at it and saying "It's a Tootsie Pop!" - which makes me smile - because it is! - I still have to make the actual candy red (or cherry) to match the red wrapper - I also have to clean up the wrapper a bit...

and the darn stick is all wonky - it needs to be cleaned up... and of course, I must still finish glazing and painting the butterscotch candy on the upper left... and do the wrapper for the candy on the bottom right which is supposed to be some sort of taffy in that opaque wax paper.  Lastly, I'll need to glaze and finish the wrapped tootsie pop on the bottom left corner - it shows the circle of white so far but I need to add words of some sort.  I was thinking instead of painting the actual logo of the candy that I might do something else - like a year, or some other logo... any suggestions?

We have one more in class session for this painting, then I think the following class is when we do our critiques - I feel pretty good about my progress... I think I'll have it done (as long as I don't mess it up doing the wrappers... and as long as I can figure out what I want the writing to say!)




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© 2006-2025 Kyle William. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Patterns
    • Women
    • Men
    • Gloves & Mittens
    • Shawls & Wraps
    • Hats
    • Cowls & Scarves
    • For the Home >
      • Abbreviations
  • Support
    • Errata
    • Needle and Hook Sizes
  • Techniques
    • Swatching
    • Cast On Techniques
    • Bind Off Techniques
    • Locked Floats
    • Tips & Tricks
  • Classes | Events
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