DIY Frottage Painting Tutorial

• Faux Painting Glaze
• Faux Painting Prep
• Faux Sponge Painting
• Faux Dragging Techniques

This technique involves the use of craft paper to manipulate the wet glaze. These finishes are a great alternative to wallpaper and a good choice for large wall spaces. See the Faux Painting Prep and Mixing Painting Glaze pages for instructions on surface preparation, base coating and mixing glaze before beginning this frottage painting project.

Prepare Craft Paper

Cut craft paper in sheets long enough to cover the wall from floor to ceiling. Crumple the paper into a tight ball and spread it out again. The tighter the ball the finer the finished pattern will be. Working on one wall at a time, prepare all the paper you will need at once so you won't have to stop in the middle of the glazing process. Set the paper aside.

Roll the Glaze Out

Lightly fill a 3|8 nap roller with glaze, avoid overfilling. Too much glaze in the roller will put too much glaze on the wall. Roll a thin coat of glaze over a 3 foot section of the wall from floor to ceiling. Along the edge, roll a border of extra thick glaze, about 6 inches wide. This will keep the edge wet and make it easier to blend the finish into the next section.

Spread the Paper Over the Glaze

Lay a sheet of the crumpled paper over the glaze. Don't let the paper touch the thick glaze border. Use a wallpaper spreader or a wide paint brush to lightly smooth out the paper.

Check the Finish

Pull the paper away from the wall and examine the impression in the glaze. The paper should pick up most of the glaze. If the finish you have created is too thick, lay the paper back down and use the spreader to brush it out with a little more pressure. Pull the paper off and discard it when you have the pattern you want. If you remove too much glaze, roll the wall again before it can dry and start over.

Blend the Finish

If the glaze is still too thick and you can't remove anymore with the paper use a small piece of crumbled paper and the spreader to redistribute the glaze until you have the finish you want.

Roll another 3 foot section of wall. Start by rolling the thick glaze border into the new section to thin it out, before adding any more glaze to the roller. At the edge of the new section, leave a thick glaze border as before. Lay the paper over the new section of glaze so that it slightly overlaps onto the first. Spread the paper out with the spreader paying extra attention to the area where the two 3 foot sections meet.

Pull the paper back and spread it out again if needed until the desired pattern is achieved. Pull the paper away and discard it when it becomes too saturated to pick up anymore glaze. Use a small piece of crumpled paper and the spreader if needed to perfect the pattern. Continue this process until you’ve reached the corner with the next wall.