Paint it! How to create an organic feature wall

Photographs Dirk Pieters | Production Marian van Wyk

You will need

SHOPPING LIST

• Tjhoko Inspired Wall Colours in the colour Lebo’s Light

• Tjhoko stencil (free with this issue!)

• Tjhoko Stencil of Paris

• Tjhoko Paint in the colours Simply Siphiwe, Da’vid and Matt Black

TOOLS

• quality paintbrush or roller

• masking tape

• medium-sized palette knife

• trowel

• spray bottle

• large bath sponge

• electric sander or sanding pad

• 80-grit sandpaper •

small sea sponge (available from PNA)

• fine artist’s brush

PROJECT NOTES

• Rinse your stencil with clean water immediately after use so that you can use it again later.

• Opt for Tjhoko Inspired Wall Colours, a washable PVA wall paint.

Get started...

1. Paint the wall with a coat of Tjhoko Inspired Wall Colours in the colour Lebo’s Light. To save time, you can use a roller. Allow to dry (at least 4 hours).

2. Place the stencil in position and secure it with masking tape. The pattern created on this wall was organic, so no measuring was necessary.

3. Using a palette knife, spread the Stencil of Paris over the stencil. Scrape off any excess paste, lift the stencil and wait for about 2 hours until the pattern has hardened.

4. Using the palette knife, dab more Stencil of Paris here and there on the wall as desired.

5. Using a large trowel, smooth out the paste in circular motions and vertical strokes before it hardens – this creates texture. Wait until dry (at least 30 minutes).

6. Spray the wall with water in places. Apply an accent colour with a brush and spray the paint with water again until it starts to run – this gives it the aged look. 

7. Paint a layer of undiluted Matt Black over your stencil work; then immediately rub over the top with a bath sponge to remove excess paint.

8. Allow the paint to dry (about 20 minutes), then use a sanding pad or electric sander and 80-grit sandpaper to make the stencil work stand out more. The more you sand, the more prominent the patterns become.

9. The brick effect.

Dip the sea sponge in a little Matt Black and dab the sponge on the wall to create a rectangular brick shape in those areas where you want to have this effect. Wait until dry (at least 20 minutes), then repeat the process with Simply Siphiwe and then Da’vid on top.

Finally, use the artist’s brush to paint lines freehand between the ‘bricks’.

Stool from Facebook Marketplace; plant and basket from Cape Garden

A combination of brush and sponge work creates the illusion of bricks showing through old layers of paint. Paint and materials from Bolts & Odds; lamp shade, round table and basket from PEP Home; bedding, rug, mirror and cushions from Mr Price Home. Paint colour Tjhoko Inspired Wall Colours Lebo’s Light