Use masking tape to outline your colored sections.
Creating large areas of contrasting color in large adjoining blocks can help to brighten a space. Prepping your surface and laying out the design carefully is the key to creating crisp lines and getting a clean design. Since masking tape can cause almost as much trouble as it provides benefit, use clear acrylic to prevent the tape from tearing your paint, creating ragged edges.
Instructions
1. Lay drop cloths under the project, or at the base of your wall, depending on what the color block will be applied to. Use masking tape to tape off any trim, or adjoining surfaces that will not be painted.
2. Mix your primer well by stirring with a wooden paint paddle, or shaking it for at least two minutes before application. Pour primer into a disposable plastic paint tray to a depth of three-quarters of an inch. Place a disposable roller cover on a roller cage and roll it through the primer until it is coated. Roll a coat of primer, covering the entire area to be color blocked to neutralize the surface and give you crisp, bright colors. Allow the primer to dry for the recommended drying time, as printed on the label.
3. Draw the outlines for your color blocks. This can be done free hand or using chalk lines and straight edges, depending on the design. Use chalk for lines that are easy to brush away. Mark each space, indicating the color you intend to apply.
4. Choose one color to begin painting with. Outline every space you intend to paint that color with masking tape. Use a small paint brush and apply a thin coat of clear, flat acrylic medium along the inside edge of the tape, overlapping the tape on all sides. Allow this to dry completely.
5. Mix your paint as for the primer and pour it into a new disposable paint tray. Use a soft bristled, angle-tipped brush to paint the outline of the color along the edge of the tape, allowing it to overlap the tape to get complete coverage of the color. Use a wider brush or roller to cover the area inside the painted outline. Allow the recommended drying time, as printed on the label, in between coats. Apply a second coat using the same techniques.
6. Wait for recommended drying time before removing the tape. Apply tape to outline the areas for the next color and repeat the process, applying the tape, painting on the clear acrylic, mixing and applying the paint. Do this for each color in your design. Remove the tape around the outside edge of your color block project area.
