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Effects > Combing
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Combing
is a quick and easy technique to master and looks
amazing. Different combs create different effects
– these are available in metal, card or rubber.
If you want to make your own card version, use card
and cut out little notches. Bear in mind card will
get wet so you need to make several combs to complete
the job.
In this example we will use rubber combs. The combination
of the vertical brush strokes and horizontal comb
dragged across the glaze creates a dramatic moiré
effect at the point where the combed lines intersect,
crossing over to give a three-dimensional look.
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RECIPE: refer to how to mix classic
colour glaze |
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INGREDIENTS: Classic colour glaze – 2 blue tester pots – white acrylic emulsion for basecoat – rubber comb – ladder – pot to mix – large 4” soft brush – decorator’s tape – varnish – two people |
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LEVEL OF EXPERTISE: 2 stars
1 star = extremely simple, 5 stars = not so straightforward |
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TIME REQUIRED: For a 1 x 3m wall, approximately 2 hours. |
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SUITABLE AREAS: Suited to smaller narrow walls where the comb will cover the whole width of a wall in one sweep. Note that with larger walls it is more difficult to avoid joining lines. |
 TECHNIQUE
Step 1: Mask around the skirting, sidewalls and ceiling. This is necessary because you have to work quickly painting on the glaze before it dries.
Step 2: Paint the basecoat with white acrylic emulsion and leave to dry completely.
Step 3: Make the classic colour acrylic glaze by mixing 1 blue tester pot paint to 2 parts classic colour glaze. Stir thoroughly.
Step 4: For this step two people are needed, both to paint on the blue glaze. It is impossible to paint the whole length of the wall in one stroke. Start by brushing vertically down from the ceiling as far as possible, then working from the bottom paint upwards, feathering the brush marks where the two strokes meet in the middle. Complete a wall once started, otherwise you will end up with a tide-line, which looks unsightly.
Step 5: Immediately comb across the wet glaze using a rubber comb, using soft sweeping strokes that intersect at intervals. The glaze mix as suggested in Step 3 of this section should be dliuted enough to allow the light painted background to show through the emulsion-glaze in the uncombed areas.
Using a variegated comb creates a 3D effect as illustrated here. This would be a suitable effect for small areas and below the dado rail.
Repeat this process until you have covered the whole surface. If you make a mistake simply brush it out with a paintbrush. You don’t need to add more paint, just smooth out the mistake.
TIP: Sometimes holding the comb straight is hard. Breathing techniques can help with keeping a steady line. Breath in as normal and exhale slowly as you drag the comb down the wall. This will give you a straight line – honest!
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