Work Smart on Your Art

If you want to paint your own home, a good place to start is the child’s room

Paint can give a whole new look to an old house. It is an inexpensive way to refurbish a room, and get rid of the boredom of looking at the same walls. The most logical place to start would be the children’s room. Any mistakes would not be crucial, and children will enjoy the end result.

• Prepare the surface to be painted with a thorough cleaning, wash with soap and water if needed. Unpainted plaster will need a coat of primer.
• Sandpaper the wall so that any abrasions and bumps are smoothed down. Use graded sandpaper, moving from coarse to fine grade.
• A base coat in the colour you want is a good idea. A neutral colour would be best, as any further detailing will show up well. A quick sandpapering, with very fine grade sandpaper, after this coat of paint is dry, will remove any brush marks.
• Visualising the actual end result comes now. Most children will choose their favourite cartoon character. If drawing freehand, try it out on sheets of paper to achieve desired likeness.
• Preferably take on a simple repetitive pattern, with a minimum of colours. A floral or geometrical border is easy for the first-timer.
• If unsure about your drawing capabilities, enlarge the required design by means of a Xerox, and then make a stencil out of a stiff sheet of paper or plastic.
• Place the stencil precisely where it is required and attach firmly to the wall with masking tape, so that it cannot shift during the paint application. The easiest paints to use on a wall are water- based wall paints available at all paint shops. Using oil-based paints calls for a higher level of proficiency.
• Now using a paintbrush or even a sponge, apply paint. After application, wait for it to dry before removing the stencil.
• For paint to dry completely it takes between one to two days, given the airflow in the space.
• After the whole pattern is complete, touch ups may be required with a fine paintbrush. One could even cheat a little and use a felt tip marker in matching colours for greater accuracy and neatness.