Asian Wall Art Stencils with Crackled Plaster
A rich red, crackled plaster finish provides the perfect backdrop for exotic Asian motifs. Modello® stencils make it easy to create patterns with depth and textured-like this distressed gold finish.
- Modello Pronto! Oriental Motif: Contact Modello® Stencils customer service to order this design.
- Venetian Gem: Ruby
- Palette Deco: Gold, Bronze
- Aquasize
- Aquacreme
- Aqua Extender
- Stain and Seal: Van Dyke Brown
Tools and Materials: Order via Royal Design Studio Here
- Venetian Trowel
- Japan Scrapers
- Soft Rubber Trowel
- Sea Sponge
- 4” Nylon Roller and Tray
Basecoat:
- Leather Red Aquabond
Size Matters: The size of cracks that you end up with are dependent on both the thickness of the application of Aquasize and the thickness of the plaster layer (or other medium) that goes over it. If thicker cracks are desired, two thin layers of size are recommended over one heavy layer. Allow each layer of size to dry completely before adding another layer. Upon application, the size will turn milky and will become totally clear as it dries.
Step 1: Apply a thin skip-trowel layer of Ruby Venetian Gem over the Leather Red base coat aiming for about 95% coverage. Leave small, random patches of the base color showing through. Let dry.
Step 2: Place Aquasize in a paint tray and load a 4” roller with the size. Roll on to the surface in large, irregular patches, covering about 75% of the surface area. It is desirable to have thinner and thicker areas of size so that your cracks will vary, but avoid applying it too thickly at one or it may “sag” and drip down the wall. Allow the size to dry and set up for a minimum of 20 minutes.
Step 3: Trowel on another layer of Ruby Venetian Gem over the size. You can still leave some “open” areas of the background showing through-just make sure that you cover all of the areas where you have applied the Aquasize. Let dry.
Step 4: Mix up an Aquacreme glaze using the following recipe: 1C. Aquacreme, 1/4C. Van Dyke Brown Stain and Seal, 1T. Aqua Extender. Use this mixture and a soft rubber trowel to apply this toning layer over the entire surface, highlighting and enhancing the deep color and crackled texture. Allow the glaze layer to dry overnight.
Note: If desired, the Aquacreme toning layer can be applied to the whole finish AFTER the Modello® design work has been completed and the Modello® patterns have been removed.
Step 5: Apply the Modello® stencils in a random pattern over the wall surface. To create a nice rich gold color, mix some Palette Deco to the following recipe: ¾ C. Gold and 1/8 C. Bronze. Use a Japan Scraper held at a shallow, flat angle to the surface to apply the color mix through the Modello® stencil.
Step 6: Immediately hit the wet Palette Deco with a damp sea sponge to “print in” some texture. Palette Deco dries very quickly, so you will want to do this to each motif before moving on. Clean your sponge often.
Step 7: If desired, you can create some more texture and slightly highlighted areas with the motifs by applying small amounts of straight Gold Palette Deco.
Step 8: Again, hit these areas immediately with a damp sea sponge to “print in” subtle texture. Let dry.
Step 9: If you have already applied the toning layer to the background, apply the same mixture now over the Palette Deco texture, using a small Japan Scraper. If it seems too dark, remove some of the excess with cheesecloth.
Step 10: Allow the glazed Palette Deco to dry completely before carefully removing the Modello® stencils. If you chose not to apply the toning layer to the background in Step 4, apply it now in the same manner to the entire finish at once.
Design Variation: Vary the look of this finish by substituting different colors of Venetian Plaster and Palette Deco. Palette Deco is also available in Copper, Silver and Metallic Red.