How to Make Faux Boards Using Paint
When you're painting a mural, a scene, or simply want to create the look of wooden boards on something other than wooden boards, faux painting techniques help you achieve the look. Wood graining is a paint technique that results in a finish that looks like wood grain. Special wood graining faux-finish tools create the grain patterns; The way you move the tools determines the pattern of the wood grain. Combine wood graining with some straightforward drafting to create faux boards.
Place a drop cloth on the floor of your work area and set the project piece atop the drop cloth, if the piece is portable. Otherwise position the drop cloth around the project wall or area to keep the floor clean.
Clean the project surface thoroughly with household cleaner and a damp rag to remove any residue. Allow to dry thoroughly. Sand the surface gently with a fine grit sanding block to create a grippable surface for the all-in-one primer/paint. Wipe the dust away with a tack cloth.
Pour some of the all-in-one primer/paint into a paint tray. Dip the paint roller into the tray, rolling excess off into the tray. Paint the entire project area. Allow to dry completely. Apply a second coat of paint if necessary, allowing it to dry as well.
Set a large straightedge across your project to create your first plank line; keep the edge vertical if you'd like vertical boards or horizontal for horizontal boards. Dip a fine artist's paintbrush into the darker wood grain color and paint an edge line along the straightedge; this creates your first plank line. Move the straightedge over parallel to the first line without disturbing the wet paint. Paint another line to create the second plank edge. Continue creating parallel boards until you've covered the entire project. Allow lines to dry thoroughly. To create staggered planks, position the straightedge perpendicular to the finished boards and paint a thin line to mimic the edge of a board or plank. Move it to another area to create a similar staggered line for another board edge, similar to a planked floor or a brick wall. Allow to dry completely.
Mix the darker wood latex paint with latex glaze in a disposable container based on proportions recommended on the glaze container -- the higher the proportion of glaze, the more transparent the finished look. Stir with a stick or paintbrush. Apply the glaze mixture generously onto the project with a paintbrush. While the glaze is wet, run the combing tool from the wood graining kit down the project in the direction of the grain on your boards. This creates the basic wood grain look. Create a second grain line next to the first, wiggling slightly to add some variation to the grain. Continue until the entire project area is covered.
Position the wood grain rocker tool from the graining kit at the edge of one of the faux boards. Slide the tool along the faux board, rocking it gently back and forth to create knots. If the wood type you're creating has minimal knots, only rock the tool slightly as you slide it along to avoid creating large knots. Reposition the rocker tool a few boards away and repeat the process. Varying the plain grain and knotted grains mimics the look of an actual plank or board surface. Allow glaze to dry completely once you are happy with the finished look, or reglaze and recomb areas that didn't turn out as well as you would like while the glaze is wet. Glaze adds time to the paint drying process.
- Drop cloth
- Household cleaner
- Damp rag
- Fine-grit sanding block
- Tack cloth
- All-in-one latex primer/paint in light wood color
- Paint tray
- Low-nap paint roller
- Fine artist's paintbrush
- Latex paint in a darker wood color
- Latex glaze
- Disposable container
- Wood graining kit
- Practice your technique and glaze mixture proportions on scraps of cardboard first to determine the best ratios and graining techniques for your faux boards.
- Use primer intended for the surface type you're painting; for instance, latex primer for standard wood, wall or cloth surfaces; a metal paint for metal objects. There are primers intended for plastic as well.
- For more realism and if the surface allows, score lines for the planks using an awl or or needle from a compass rather than just painting the lines. The indented lines imply actual planks or boards.
- Use a quality paint roller to avoid clumps of roller fuzz getting onto your project.
- The colors you choose for your faux boards depend on the type of wood you're recreating; some woods such as pine are more yellow, while others such as cherry are more red. Study an actual piece of wood or photos of wood grain to note the presence or absence of knots, as well as general shades.
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