" What do you call this kind of painting?"

" Well, this is based on a traditional method called the stria, but we call it a curly stria. It's an abstract finish, more appropriate for today's living."

" And it has---- to me, it's kind of reminiscing of blond wood up to a point."

" Uh huh."

" But, you've contrasted it neatly with the---- that's a turquoise really, right?"

" Right. We used the same color pallet throughout, but in different shades of intensity. Up here, we wanted to keep it very light because it was a bedroom and also to be private."

" Yeah."

" And it looks neat. And what's really neat is how they have---- they achieved this finish, which we're here with the camera about a week ago so we saw Bill and Rita apply it. Take a look. So what we wanna know is what you're using and how you do it. So, I don't know which to ask first, but what kind of a paint material do you have to use to get this effect?"

" Well, we're using a combination of latex paint, flat latex paint, and a latex varnish called the latex urethane and the paint conditioner, which allows the latex paint a little bit more drying time."

" So, and this is what you're pouring into the panel here over here Rita?"

" Right."

" So that's that mixture. Yeah, it looks like plain paint to me, but what is it that the conditioner does?"

" The conditioner will give it a little bit of a longer working time."

" Uh huh."

" It's an extender."

" Yes."

" And traditionally, we would use these techniques with the oil-based glaze, but the latex actually will dry and allow us to do an overglaze within a short amount of time."

" Right. Now why are you using a brush down there, Bill?"

" Well, the sponge don't go all the way into the baseboard----"

" Uh huh."

" so I need some other tool that will allow me to cut into the baseboard and continue the pattern all the way down."

" And of course, you've got masking tape there so that----"

" Right."

" you'll have a fine line. What would you call this----"

" Well, we call it a curly stria. "

" A curly stria. "

" Right. And traditionally, the old time painters would have used the stria either with a comb or with a sponge, but with a vertical motion, straight down."

" So a stria is when you got the paint wet on the wall and you kind of use a comb or something to create these vertical lines."

" Right."

" Okay."

" In this case, it's more abstract, and----"

" More like a variation, yeah."

" Right. More today."

" But what is it that you're doing to make one part of it heavier than the other?"

" I'm using a great deal of pressure with my fingers through the sponge. So I'm getting an irregular pattern."

" Hey, I wanna try it. Should I wear gloves also?"

" Yes, you certainly should."

" Here, Bob."

" This latex paint why do you need gloves?"

" Try this."

" The latex urethane that we've added, the varnish that we've talked about----"

" Yes."

" there's something in it that makes it incredibly strong and it will bond to the fingernails----"

" Really?"

" making it pretty difficult to get it off."

" So there's not too much paint on here."

" Right."

" And where were you applying pressure in order to get the----"

" Well, I'm trying various from row to row?"

" How do you hold it? Like that?"

" I put my fingers right into the sponge."

" Yeah."

" We just open up the back of the sponge a little bit, and actually just grab like this, and there will be some paint dripping, but hopefully, if the floor is covered, it doesn't create a problem. And then you just do a zigzag motion. The trickiest part of this is keeping an even pressure all the way through. Now, if you're running out of paint you can squeeze a little bit harder and the paint will start to flow again."

" It's getting a little bit too weighty, don't you think?"

" It's kinda----"

" Very expressive."

" Well, okay. I'm gonna let you go back because otherwise, I'm gonna really be able to tell if somebody else stepped in there."

" Well, in a case like this, sometimes you can cut in with the brush and add if there's an area that needs a little bit more color."

" Uh huh."

" You can cut in with a brush."

" Oh good for you."

" And create a way they line that way."

" That's right. Go ahead, Bill. Fix it. It's a technique that takes a little bit of doing."

" It takes a little bit of practice, yeah."

" A little practice."

" And once you're doing it you kind of get hypnotized by it, so I'm gonna let you just go ahead and continue with that wall."

" I load up almost for every panel so that I don't run out of paint halfway through. And there's a tendency to offload too much at the start so we wanna make sure that we don't get any drips later on."

" Uh huh."

" And just go back in with the brush if something starts to drip and work the drips out. But with this pattern because it is a more abstract contemporary finish, we're not trying to repeat the same wave pattern all the way through. Each panel can be individual and they can sort of run into each other as they overlap. Now one of the advantages for this is that it's---- you can stop and start it at almost any point. Whereas with traditional oil-based glazing, once you start a wall you pretty much wanna finish it or you're gonna get overlap marks."

" So the first step is done. What is the second step, Rita?"

" The second step is to add an overglaze on top of the original curly stria. "

" An overglaze. Just what is this stuff? It looks very pearly."

" It's---- actually, you're right. It's a pearl essence quality. We use Artist's acrylic paint that has micro particles in it."

" Really?"

" And also have used some latex urethane for strength and durability."

" Uh huh. So what is it that it does once you put in over the curly stria here?"

" We're using it as a toner. It will sort of refine the finish and give it a soft lustrous final finish. I've loaded my sponge very heavily, and then I'm just gonna use a pull unlike the hand motion that Bill used in that curly motion, I wanna get a nice smooth over finish."

" So this step gives it a certain depth and luster."

" Right."

" Nice job guys."

" Thanks."