DIY Network

Faux Abalone Plaster-and-Paint Technique From "Ask DIY Home Improvement" episode DADH-213

An "abalone" wall treatment using an amethyst base-coat and iridescent highlights.

Q (from Rachel in Seattle, WA): I'm redecorating my foyer and my plan is to create an old-world style. I've got a lot of accessories with an 'old world' look, but I'm not sure what to do with the walls. I like the look of Venetian plaster. Any ideas?

A (from DIY decorative-paint expert Gary Lord) : I have a paint technique that I love that will give you a very unique look. I use Venetian plaster -- with a twist. The "twist" is adding striking iridescent colors to give the walls a one-of-a-kind appearance. Take a look at a dining room where I recently applied this treatment (see image at right). It's called abalone -- named after the shellfish whose shell interior has a colorful, pearl-like sheen.. What I love about this treatment is that you can stand at various spots in the room and the walls look different. The shades of color change as the light reflects off the paint treatment. Today I'll show you the tools and techniques that you need to create this unique look in your own home. Once finished, the plaster surface will appear textured but feel very smooth. This technique is fast and fun to do because most of the paint and plaster dry very quickly.

Materials:

Amethyst Venetian Gem® plaster
White-on-White Venetian Gem ® plaster
Aquacolors®: Iridescent Blue, Iridescent Violet, Iridescent Green
(All Aquacolors made by Aqua Finishing Solutions®.)
8" x 3 " smooth stainless-steel trowel
4" stainless-steel Japan scraper
Whizz roller

Note: To achieve this look, you'll need some specific materials, and you really can't substitute if you want the same look. See the Resources below for product information.

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Abalone Paint-Treatment

• Using a Venetian plaster called Amethyst Venetian Gem, roll some of the plaster onto a small work area using a 4-inch roller.

• Cover the entire area, and allow it to dry.

• Use a 4" stainless-steel Japan scraper to apply a tight skim-coat of the Venetian gem to the same surface (figure A).

• The application technique is to put a little of the plaster on one side of your blade your blade and off-load onto the surface. Then hold the blade at 90-degree angle and scrape the material smooth using a hard, vertical movement (figure B). Make sure the bow faces away from the surface when using the Japan Scraper. This fills in all imperfections in your wall surface, and makes the working area smooth.

• Continue the process until you've skim-coated the entire work area. Allow to dry.
  

• With an 8"x3" stainless-steel smoothing trowel, apply the texture coat. Again, put just a little of the plaster on your blade (figure C), since you're working toward only a minor raised surface at this step.

• Hold the blade so that it is almost parallel, but just slightly angled, with the surface. Then use light pressure and drag the blade across the surface (figure D). The plaster should come off in a random "skip-trowel" pattern. This creates highs and lows in the surface, and the raised areas should be only 1/16-inch above the surface.

• Allow to dry.

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  Figure E

• The next step is to fill in the high and low areas with a different shade. To do this, mix the Amethyst Venetian-Gem with the White-on-White Venetian-Gem in a 50-percent mixture. Apply a light skim coat over the texture coat (figure E) Allow to dry.
  

• Apply another tight skim-coat Amethyst 100-percent over the surface. Again, continue using a hard, firm motion, with the blade at a 90-degree angle to the wall, to remove excess plaster. Allow to dry. This completes the base foundation for the treatment. Now you're ready to begin applying the iridescent effect.

• Apply the Iridescent-Blue Aquacolor 100-percent in a tight skim-coat using your 4" Japan scraper. These secondary coats should "catch" in the low areas, and be removed from the high areas, creating a subtle, variegated effect. Allow to dry.

• Next, apply a mixture of equal parts Iridescent-Green and Violet Aquacolors. Blend the two colors together on your blade and, once again, apply the mixed colors in a tight skim coat.

• Allow the iridescent coats to dry.
  
  

  Figure F

A room with this treatment of faux-abalone walls creates a rich and stunning effect (figure F) . It's a great look that you can create yourself. Just remember to carefully apply the plaster. And make sure it's dry before adding your iridescent paints. Gary always suggests that, before you try a new paint technique, practice on a piece of scrap board. It's better to feel comfortable with the technique before taking on the walls of the room you're painting.

RESOURCES :
Prismatic Painting Studio
Supplies and training for the decorative arts.
http://prismaticpainting.com

Aqua Finishing Products
Faux painting and decorative finishing.
A division of Faux Effects International.
www.aquafinishing.com

The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes
by Pierre Finkelstein (ISBN: 0823008584 )
Watson-Guptill Publications
Website: www.watsonguptill.com

Classic Paints & Faux Finishes: How to Use Natural Materials...
by Annie Sloan (ISBN: 0895778971)
Click here to order this title.
Penguin Putnam Inc.
E. Rutherford, NJ
USA
Phone: 201-933-9292
Toll Free Phone: 800-788-6262
E-mail: online@penguinputnam.com
Website: www.penguinputnam.com