Make Faux Tuscan
Tile
Imported Tuscan tiles add a special touch to any interior design project. Unfortunately, genuine hand-painted Italian tiles can be extremely expensive. One option is to paint your own faux Tuscan tiles. This decorative painting project is fairly simple for anyone with basic art skills. You can choose from one of many iconic Italian designs or create your own.
Instructions
1. Research examples of Italian ceramic tiles. Iconic Tuscan motifs include roosters, geometric patterns and fruit designs. Choose a color scheme. Most tiles have a white background. A traditional color combination is blue on white. Select a style or design your own. Practice your design with a paintbrush on paper so you can paint it quickly and fluently.
2. Tape off the area that you will be painting. Prime with a latex-based primer. Apply one or more coats of white latex-based paint in an eggshell finish to get a clean surface. Use a small foam roller for priming and base painting if the area is small, such as a back splash or edging.
3. Use a ruler and pencil to mark out the composition of your tile. Tiles can either be squares or rectangles. Make your pencil lines ¼-inch thick, as these will show through as faux grout lines.
4. Mix 1 part white base paint with 1 part gloss medium. Apply to surface with 2-inch brush. Soften brushstrokes with a clean bunch of rags. Allow glaze to dry completely.
5. Mix acrylic paint with gloss medium to paint on tile designs. Continue to add gloss medium until paint is fluid. Use long, thin sign-painting brushes to get sharp lines. Keep brushes in water between applications. Wash brushes with soap and water after use.
6. Seal and protect faux tiles with varnish. Use a gloss finish to imitate glazed tile and create a surface that will be easy to wipe clean.
