There are so many faux finishes. Some are over-the-top and tacky, while others are beautiful and add much dimension. But one misconception about faux finishes is that they are difficult to accomplish. Like all things it takes practice and there are finishes more complicated than others, but with practice they can be achieved with success. Some simple faux finishes for the beginner are dry-brushing, stippling, and ragging. One of my favorite simple faux finishes is called frottage. Frottage is two colors that are layered on top of one another (usually the darker on the bottom). The top layer is pulled off exposing the bottom layer in pieces. It is a fast paced technique but simple to accomplish (and fun!).

The pictures above show my process when doing a frottage faux finish on frames. Before doing anything I choose a color that will complement but not overpower the art or photograph that will be encased in the frame. After that decision is made I black out the frame and tape out the areas in which I want to remain black (Or to be painted a different color).

One of the most important elements of frottage is the paint mixture. I combine flat (matte) paint with wallpaper paste. I eyeball the combination to my own satisfaction, but I would say it is close to 50/50 - a little also goes a long way. The wallpaper paste is crucial to creating the proper and final effect.

The paste dries slightly faster than the paint which helps create the final effect. Because of that it is important to have your materials at hand and to work quickly. It also can get messy so you should make sure surfaces like tables and floors are covered and protected. Painters gloves are a must.

I brush on the paint/paste mixture in sections. Then I use crumpled up sales ads and dab the paint. The dabbing action pulls away the mixture where the paste has begun to dry. I continue to dab until I am satisfied with the finish and blend into the unpainted areas. I repeat this whole process over the frame. I use the sales ads (ones you get in the newspaper) because the paper is usually better quality and the ink does not transfer to the frame (regular newspaper print tends to tear after a bit and the ink can bleed on to the piece).

After the frame has dried I carefully pull off the tape and then touch up the frame with black and with the left over paint/paste mixture. If I decide that the frottage finish is all I am doing with no additional design then it is time to hit it with several coats of water based poly to complete it. The poly not only protects the finish and the frame but it will also make the colors of the finish separate and pop.

I love this finish because it is quick and extremely effective. The result is always beautiful. Currently I use the frottage finish for frames but I have also painted entire rooms with it. Like with all painting techniques I recommend to beginners to practice and complete test pieces before applying it. Most importantly though is to have fun with it! Experiment! What color combinations would you use? What would you "frottage"?