Painting requires both skill and attention to the big picture. Therefore, there are actually people that are lousy painters, if it is at all possible. Painting requires patience (like watching paint dry) and an eye for the entire wall at one time. Furthermore, painters have to be willing to put in long hours of backbreaking labor to get one surface completely covered in a satisfactory manner.
Here are some steps to becoming a top-notch painter that will have you going professional in no time.
1. Plan your color scheme. All walls and surfaces have a color scheme. The color scheme is merely the selection of colors that you have expertly chosen to be applied to your wall. These colors must be selected from the million upon million variations of color that are available on the consumer market.
When planning your wall colors, it is a good idea to take a look around to see what other homeowners and businesses have done with their walls. If you like a color that they have used, then ask for a chip or for the exact color name. If none are available, then visit the local paint store and browse the sample options. You should always browse the sample options anyway. Take a few samples home and live with them for several days before settling on one color.
2. Prepare your area. Once you have purchase your painting tools (the nicer the better) and mixed your paint, the next thing on your list to becoming a professional is protecting the area in which you will be painting. Protecting your area basically means that you need to cover any surfaces that should not be splattered or affected by paint. This can include light switches, carpet, cabinets, countertops, furniture, light fixtures, trim, ceilings and much, much more. Use a mixture of durable drop cloths and painters tape to help you create a secure painting zone.
3. Next, stir the paint and lay out your materials so that they are easily accessible. Pour the paint into the roller dish and make sure that it is securely resting on the ground so that it does not tip over. When transferring paint from the roller dish to your paint brush, it is important that you hear the sticky sound of paint when you pull the brush to the top of the roller dish. This sticky sound means that the paint is ready to be installed on the wall or other surface.
4. When applying the paint to the wall, work first by creating a box shape. Cut a line from one diagonal of the box to the opposite. Then fill in the box. If you see streaks when applying the paint to the wall, do not worry – the paint should dry smoothly.
5. Generally, it takes more than one coat of paint to completely cover a wall satisfactorily. Before applying the second coat of paint, make sure that the firs coat has dried for at least a few hours.