Creating patterns with masking tape and templates

Creating Patterns with Masking Tape and Templates

Another method that I use in my decorative painting regularly is working with tape and templates. It's particularly helpful when creating more structured designs such as a geometric border.

Using Templates

Whenever you are working with a regimented pattern, always take accurate measurements of the space you are painting so you're able to determine the size of the pattern and exactly how many repeats you can have.

Once you have worked out the size of your repeating pattern, you can make templates to speed up the process of painting and avoid doing any more maths!

Templates can be made out of cardboard, stuck onto your surface with masking tape and then painted around to create different shapes and patterns.

Using Masking Tape

I would always recommend using Frogtape for this, as it's lower tack and is much better for your walls.

It's helpful to have a few different widths of Frogtape, as you can incorporate their widths into your design to make painting easier.

Whenever working with masking tape, you always want to peel it off quite quickly after you've applied the paint to avoid 'bridging'.

You will need:

• A surface to paint
• If you aren't going directly onto a wall, you might like to practise on a large piece of MDF that is covered in emulsion paint
• Tape measure
• Masking tape or Frogtape in a few different widths
• A selection of paintbrushes
• A selection of emulsion paints
• I am using Breakfast Room Green
• Paint kettle and palette
• Aquarelle pencil to mark out your design using a template
• Pots of water

Painting a Freehand Stripe

Choose a brush that, when splayed, is the width you want your stripe to be. Stand directly in front of your surface and, holding your paintbrush with your arm outstretched and straight, start at the top and move your arm down in a fluid motion keeping it straight. The weight of your arm creates steady pressure on your surface to keep the line even.